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THE 


HISTORY  OF  EVERTON, 


INCLUDING 


Hiasettatiotw  on  tfje 

•y 

DESCRIPTIVE  DELINEATIONS  OF  THE  SEVERAL  &  SEPARATE 
PROPERTIES  OF  THE  TOWNSHIP. 

WITH  MAP,   PLATES,  AND  WOOD-CUTS. 

BY  ROBERT  SYERS. 


"  History  is  the  roast  beef  of  literature,  on  which  all  minds  may  feed 
advantageously;  but  those  who  are  fond  of  feasting  on  literary  fricasees, 
truffles,  and  trifles,  seldom  relish  a  dish  so  plain ;  and  yet  of  all  the  dishes 
that  intellect  feeds  on,  history  is  the  most  nutritious." — Ethic  Scraps. 


LIVERPOOL : 

PUBLISHED  BY  G.  &  J.  ROBINSON,  CASTLE-STREET, 
AND  D.  MARPLES,  LORD-STREET. 

1830. 


Printed  by  D.  Marples,  Liverpool. 


TO 
THE  MOST  NOBLE  THE 

MARQUIS  OF  SALISBURY, 

LORD  OF  THE  MANORS  OF  EVERTON,  &c.  &c.  &c. 

THIS  WORK 
IS  MOST  RESPECTFULLY  INSCRIBED, 

BY  HIS  LORDSHIP'S 
MOST  OBEDIENT,  HUMBLE  SERVANT 
AND  COPYHOLDER, 

THE  AUTHOR. 


PREFACE. 


HAVING  commenced  this  work  under  impres- 
sions precisely  similar  to  many  of  those  which 
are  expressed  in  the  following  passages,  I  trust 
I  shall  he  excused  recording  them  in  the  form 
of  a  preface. 

Historians  roam  from  hook  to  hook,  as  hees 
from  flower  to  flower;  the  latter  in  quest. of 
materials  for  the  construction  of  the  wonder- 
ful economy  of  their  hives,  the  former  to  rifle 
the  stores  of  literature,  and  collect  such  sub- 
stances and  sweets  as  may  properly  serve  to 
construct  their  volumes. 

From  the  lips  of  the  ancient  and  of  the  oh- 
servant,  the  historian  also  collects  the  honey 
of  tradition,  and  prepares  it  for  the  palates  of 
his  readers. 


vL  PREFACE. 

But  although  to  dive  deep  into  the  sea  of 
retrospection  may  be  the  pleasure  as  well  as 
the  duty  of  the  historian,  yet  he  should  never 
fail  to  swim  on  the  surface  of  that  passing  cur- 
rent which  time  rolls  along ;  and  as  he  thus 
swims,  he  should  he  earnestly  mindful  of  the 
existing  state  of  men,  mind,  and  matter ;  mak- 
ing himself  familiar  with  the  complexion  and 
concerns  of  his  compeers,  and  indeed  of  his 
contemporaries  of  all  grades,  their  operations, 
propensities,  professions,  and  possessions  ;  and 
with  such  ability  as  he  possesses,  depicture  and 
record  his  observations  and  discoveries ;  for  it 
is  only  when  the  historian  works  with  materials 
found  in,  and  furnished  by,  his  own  times,  that 
he  is  at  all  likely  to  produce  the  grand  deside- 
ratum of  history — truth,  which  alone  gives 
strength,  brilliance,  and  value  to  historical 
works.  With  some  force,  and  much  truth,  an 
author  has  said,  "  I  can,  with  satisfaction  to 
myself,  and  with  tolerable  certainty  of  being 


PREFACE.  vii. 

comprehended,  describe  to  my  friend  and 
reader  the  events  of  the  present  day ;  but 
matters  that  have  been  buried  by  time  for 
years  in  the  vaults  of  my  memory,  I  do  not 
easily  disentomb,  nor  are  they,  when  exhumed, 
any  other  than  mere  ghosts,  skeletons,  or  sha- 
dows of  the  realities  they  once  were." 

As  to  errors,  inconsistencies,  and  omissions, 
readers  must  reconcile  themselves  to  meet  with 
them,  as  is  clearly  demonstrated  by  the  fol- 
lowing anecdote  :  When  Sir  Walter  Raleigh 
was  a  prisoner  in  the  tower,  he  employed  him- 
self in  the  compilation  of  a  history  of  the  world : 
it  chanced  one  time,  whilst  so  employed,  that  a 
tumult  arose  under  his  window ;  he  could  not 
see  the  perpetrators  of  the  breach  of  peace, 
but,  as  was  natural,  made  inquiries  from 
many  persons  of  the  cause  and  nature  of  the 
broil ;  but  no  two  descriptions  of  the  tumult 
agreed ;  every  version  of  it  differed  :  the  diffi- 
culty of  procuring  an  authentic  account  of  a 


viii.  PREFACE. 

matter  that  had  taken  place  so  recently,  and 
so  near,  raised,  as  it  well  might,  such  doubts 
in  Sir  Walter's  mind,  as  to  the  truth  of  the 
data  he  had  collected  of  circumstances  ancient 
and  remote,  that  his  reflections  thereon  had 
nearly  caused  him  to  cast  aside  his  work  in 
disgust  and  despair. 

Great  attention  and  considerable  expense 
have  been  bestowed  on  the  compilation  of  the 
matter,  and  the  engraving  of  the  map,  to  repay 
which  would  require  a  much  higher  price  than 
is  demanded  for  the  work ;  but  it  was  not  an 
expectation  of  profit  that  led  to  its  publication, 
for,  indeed,  were  every  copy  to  be  sold  at  the 
declared  price,  no  pecuniary  gain  worthy  of 
notice  would  remain. 

When  I  issued  my  prospectus,  ambitious 
men  and  popularity-hunters  saw  no  tempting 
bait  hooked  on  my  proposals ;  I  had  nothing 
to  offer  wherewith  to  purchase  the  encourage- 
ment of  those  wary  and  worldly-minded  cha- 


PREFACE.  ix. 

racters,  nor  to  stimulate  such  personages  to 
part  with  the  required  trifling  contribution, 
but  a  "probable  shew  of  my  mite  being  utile 
to  the  public;  a  liberal  few,  however,  came 
forward,  who  deserve  and  have  my  thanks. 

There  are,  doubtless,  many  who  may  deem 
a  history  of  Everton  not  of  sufficient  conse- 
quence to  warrant  their  patronage  and  pecu- 
niary support;  but  if  we  glance  at  futurity, 
when  Everton  shall  have  become  an  eminent 
place,  and,  in  a  measure,  individualized  with 
the  great  commercial  town  of  Liverpool,  then, 
perhaps,  this  account  of  the  rise,  progress,  po- 
pulation, extent,  &c.  of  the  township,  will  be 
deemed  a  serviceable  record,  and  the  pecuniary 
consideration  of  its  cost  will  lose  much  of  its 
present  characteristic  importance  with  those 
who  may  then  possess  this  humble  History  of 
Everton. 

As  to  criticism — when  slighted  buttercups 
and  grassy-flowers  become  worthy  of  the  scien- 


X.  PREFACE. 

tific  florist's  attention,  then  may  my  work  be 
deemed  worthy  of  the  learned  critic's  notice ; 
but,  in  the  mean  time,  it  is  consolatory  to  know 
that  humble  buttercups,  and  nutritious  grass, 
are  more  serviceable  in  the  world's  economy, 
than  gaudy  tulips  and  proud  pinks. 

I  conclude,  with  assurances  to  the  reader 
that  I  have  strenuously  endeavoured  to  travel 
in  the  path  of  truth,  and  to  give  as  much  inte- 
rest to  this  treatise  as  the  paucity  of  materials 
permitted. 


CONTENTS. 


Aborigines     .        . 

Ashburnham,  Lord  (and  Lady) 
of  manor  .... 

Ancient  state  of  Everton,  pro- 
bable .... 

Antiquities  .         .         . 

Acres,  different  sized     . 

Amusements          .         .     126, 

Archery          .... 

Assemblies     .... 

Ashton, ,  of  Kirkdale     . 

Anabaptists'  Cemetery 

Briganti         .         . 

Boadicea        .         . 

Barret,  John,  Lord  of  manor. 

Blanch,  Lady  of  manor 

Breck-silver 

Building,  old  mode  of 

Buildings  near  beacon  burnt. 

Bonfires         .... 

Brokers          .... 

Book-society 

Breakfast-parties  . 

Barton,  Thomas 

Bronte,  villa  of 

Birchall,  Mr.          ... 

Bullin,  Christopher       . 

Beacon  of  faggots 

Bold,  Jonas 

Bennett,  Mrs. 


A 

Page 

Page 

5 

Appleton,  William 

.     246 

Adamson,  Roger 

.     247 

32 

Atherton,  James 

271,  281 

Anderton,  family  of 

.    323 

36 

Accident,  melancholy 

.     328 

47 

Anecdote,  lack  of  lamps 

.     369 

77 

Assessors 

.     385 

134 

Assessed  taxes,  amount 

.     415 

140 

Annals  of  Everton 

.     416 

143 

Act  of  Parliament  for  church 

202 

of  St.  George 

.     422 

232 

B 

- 

7 

Banks,  Miss,  anecdote  of 

.     194 

7 

Beezley,  family  of 

.     197 

17 

Bridge,  family  of 

.     209 

18 

Bruce,  Rev.  John 

.  -  212 

21 

Boundaries,  new 

.     234 

54 

Brooks,  Rev.  Jonathan  . 

209,  247 

61 

Brown,  family  of 

.     248 

128 

Boardman,  John 

.     275 

133 

Ball,  Thomas         .         . 

.     276 

139 

Boardman,  R.  B. 

— 

147 

Beetenson,  Samuel 

.     277 

156 

Brooks,  Joseph 

.     279 

157 

Buddicom,  Rev.  R.  P. 

.     284 

173 

Byrom,  William 

.     293 

174 

Batley,  George       . 

.     297 

176 

Barton,  Miles 

.       — 

177 

Blundell,  James     . 

.     302 

191 

Backhouse,  Daniel 

.     306 

Xll. 


CONTENTS. 


Brandreth,  Dr. 
Bushell,  Mrs.  Molly 
Barton,  Rev.  Henry 
Bowling-green 
Beacon  . 

Bridewell 


Page 

.     313 

.     323 

.     332 

.     140,  334 

56,  350,  353 

.     310, 354 


Page 

Barn  on  the  Hill  .         .     354 

Barracks  .  .  .  167,  374 
Balloon  ascent  .  .  .  379 
Boundaries  marked  357,  373,  383 
Beacon  Society  .  .  .  433 


Caesar,  Everton  in  the  time  of  5 
Cartismunda  ...  7 
Caractacus  ....  7 
Constantine  the  Great  .  8 

Castle  huilt  by  Edward  the 

Confessor  ...  10 

Copyholders  of  West  Derby 

apply  to  James  I.  .  .21 
Commons  of  Everton  claimed 

by  West  Derby  -•  .  .  22 
Citizens  of  London  buy  West 

Derby  ....  23 
Citizens  of  London  buy  Ever- 
ton .  .  .  .27 
Citizens  of  London  sell  West 

Derby,  Everton,  and  Waver- 

tree  to  Earl  of  Derby  .  28 
Court  Baron  appointed  .  — 

Commons,  part  of,  enclosed  by 

the  lord  ....  29 
Copyhold  rents  settled  and 

fixed  .  ,  ]  ,  :!_.  .  — 

Cottage,  Prince  Rupert's  .  47 
Cottage,  Anderson's  .  .  50 
Cross,  taken  down  .  .  70 
Castle  at  West  Derby  .  .71 
Climate  .  ...  .87 
Courts,  copyhold  .  .  101 

Court-house,  Derby  .  .  — 
Common,  part  of,  claimed  by 

West  Derby  .  .  .114 
Customs,  &c.  of  inhabitants.  1 1 6 


Concerts 
Card  playing 
Cobbler's  close 
Campbell,  George 
Corrie,  Miss          . 
Case,  George 
Cordes,  James 
Cabbage  hall 


.  141 

121,  146 

.  156 

.  158 

.  168 

.  178 

.  181 

183 


Chaffers,  Edward  and  Misses  191 
Coleman,  Misses  .  .  229 

Church,  new,  in  Shaw-street  233 
Crescent,  Everton  brow  .  237 
Cope,  Benjamin  .  .  .  246 
Carson,  John  ...  253 
Cropper,  John  .  .  .  257 
Campbell,  Colin  .  .  275 

Centre  district  .  .  .291 
Clarke,  family  of  .  .301 

Coffee-house  .         .         .     315 

Coleman,  John,  academy  .  336 
Cottages,  general  52,  178,  352 
Constabulary  department  .  358 
Church  parish-rate  .  .  385 
Customs  of  the  manor  .  386 

Copyholds,  nature  of,  &c.  .  391 
County-rate  .  .  .  415 

Church,  Act  for  .  .  .  422 
Church  of  St.  George  282,  381,  425 
Churchwardens  of  parish  .  427 
Church-ley  ...  .  .  — 
Cemetery  .  .  .  210,  429 
Classes  of  houses  .  433 


D 

Danes,  incursions  of  the        .       10      Dixon,  William 
Dinner  parties       .        .        .     1 47       Davies,  John 


241 
250 


CONTENTS. 


Xlll. 


Page 

Page 

Dobson,  Richard 

254 

Dyson,  T.  F.      ••,"•'     . 

298 

Dickson,  G.  F.      . 

293 

Deed,  ancient 

397 

Drinkwater,  John 

294 

Directory       .         .         .       -.".•  > 

453 

E 

Estovers,  right  of 

6 

Ewart,  William     .        .      166, 

220 

Edward  the  Confessor 

10 

Earle,  William      .        .174, 

255 

Earls  of  Derby       .         .15 

,  16 

Ellison,  Seacome  .        .     226, 

333 

Earl  Derby,  Wra.  Geo.  Rd. 

Expenditure,  comparative     . 

349 

died  1702            .     •  .     ->;V  - 

31 

Ellinthorpe,  Joseph       .     307, 

359 

Etymology     .... 

39 

Election  of  sub-constable 

363 

Employments 

123 

Easter-dues        .  ',<  .... 

428 

East  District       ..[••!. 

176 

F 

Ferrers,  Wm.,  Earle  of  Derby 

15 

Forrest,  Alexander 

280 

Ferrers,  Robt.,        Do. 

16 

Fry,  Joseph  .         .     •   .         ;i 

330 

Folly-fair       .... 

136 

Fund  to  prosecute  offenders 

371 

Formby,  Rev.  Mr. 

188 

Fire-works              .         .      140, 

381 

Fisher,  John           . 

225 

Fifteens  of  the  king       .       ••.,} 

397 

G 

Gaunt,  John  of,  lord  of  manor 

18 

Gascoyne,  Bamber,  Esq.      35, 

173 

Green,  Isaac,  Esq. 

34 

Green,  John 

178 

Geology,  &c. 

73 

Gleave,  Doctor      .        .      •r*J11' 

208 

Gentry           .... 

133 

Gregson,  family  of 

217 

Games            .... 

150 

Goring,  George     .        .178, 

223 

Geese,  adventure  with  a  flock 

Green,  Robert  and  Misses 

224 

of       

159 

Greenway,  Mr. 

248 

Gloucester,  Prince  William 

168 

Gloucester,  Duke  of 

371 

Geller,  J.  G. 

— 

H 

Heptarchy     .         .         .  '  '  ". 

9 

Holmes,  I.  &  H. 

240 

Holland,  Robert  de,  lord  of 

Hanmer,  Latham           .        . 

— 

manor         .... 

16 

Huson,  T.      .        ..." 

245 

.Harrison's,  William,   lecture 

Harrison,  family  of       .       V 

248 

on  botany 

64 

Horsefall,  Charles         .     174, 

258 

Headless  cross        .         .       72, 

167 

Houghton,  Richard 

260 

Harding,  William 

178 

Holmes,  James 

273 

Hodgson,  Adam 

181 

Hornby,  Joseph     .         .         . 

281 

Heyes,  family  of 

193 

Harris,  T.,  academy 

288 

Hodgson,  E.  L. 

201 

Heyworth,  Ormerod 

290 

Halsall,  family  of 

204 

Hind,  John             .         .•'?". 

292 

Hodgson,  Thomas 

209 

Heyworth,  James 

294 

XIV. 


CONTENTS. 


Higginson,  John  4 

Hope,  family  of    . 
Harper,  William    . 

Johnson,  John,  family  of 


Page 
303 
304 
312 


Historical  summary 
Hollow  way  from  Everton 


Page 
339 
345 


199      Johnson,  George 


K 


Kirk  dale  rented  right  of  com- 
mon        -?*  r,    .,  .     .        20,  29 
Kirkdale  cattle-fair  .     262 


Kirkdale  bridewell 
Knowles,  T.,  academy 
Kirkdale 


172,  251 

.  266 
.  300 
.  348 


Liverpool,  value  of,  in  1327  17 
Law  suit  of  Everton  with  ci- 
tizens of  London  .  .  25 
Lord's  rent  of  Everton,  1642  28 
Leaseholds  how  transferred  .  115 
Lower  orders  .  .  .  130 
Litt,  W.  P.  .  .  .166 

Lang,  John  .        .        .     167 

Lord's  rent,   &c.,  how   now 

paid  .         .         .113,  171 

Lodge,  Adam  .  .  .218 
Latham,  Misses  .  .  .221 
Loggerheads  .  .  .  236 

Livingstone  family  .  .  243 
Leigh,  J.  S.  .  .  .-  .  .  265 


Ledson,  Rt.  .  .  .  274 

Lister,  Edward  .  .  .  276 
Ledward,  Edward  .  .  280 
Lorimer,  Ellis  .  .  300,  304 
Lowrie,  Thomas  .  .  .319 
Lyon,  John  .  .  .  321,  359 

Lighting  and  watching  .  368 
Law  bill  ....  384 
Lancashire,  value  of  .  .  397 
Lease  of  115  acres  of  Everton 

land  .  107,  112,  400,  410 
Leys,  ancient  .  .  .413 
Lands  given  or  sold  to  and  by 

the  township      .        .        .     476 


Molyneux,  Sir  Richard,  stew- 
ard of  manor  ...  28 
Manor,  Everton  a  distinct  .  30 
Measure,  total,  of  Everton  .  76 
Mines  under  copyholds  .  104 

Manners,  customs,  &c.  .     116 

Merchants  .  .  .  .132 
Manners  .  .  ."  .  134 
Mere  Bank  villa  .  .169 

Myers,  William  .  .  .170 
Mere  or  watering  pool  .  — 

Name,  Everton's,  first  regis- 
tered         /       .        ...        4 
Northumbrians      .  9 


M 


Mather,  John         .         .  .174 

Mawdsley,  Edmd.          .  .213 

Marsh,  Mrs.            .         .  .     244 

Mather,  J.  P.          .         .  .     256 

Me  Gregor,  Alexander  168,  279 

Mayors,  mock         .         .  .     295 

Mercer,  George     .        .  .318 

Me  George,  John            .  .     320 

Municipal  management  .    365 

Meetings  how  convened  .     367 

Map       ....  153,384 


N, 


Noblesof  Everton,  anecdoteof  118 
North  District  .  .  .155 
North  View  .*  .  164,167 


CONTENTS. 


XV. 


Page 

North-east  District 

.     172 

Nicholson,  William 

.    205 

Necropolis 

.     210 

Oratorio 

.     142 

Oldham  family 

.     177 

Oddhouse 

.      186,  332 

Netherfield,  Rebecca 
North-west  District 
Naylor,  Richard 

Okill,  Charles 

Offenders,  fund  to  prosecute 

Owners  of  houses,  &c. 


Page 
242 
261 
322 

334 
371 
433 


Picts  and  Scots,  invasions  of 
Prince  Rupert's  head-quarters 
Pauper's  pie,  anecdote  of 
Pastimes         .... 
Pilgrim,  villa  of    . 
Pritchard,  Edward  (woollen 
draper,  not  wine  merchant, 
as  stated  in  context,) 
Powell,  Richard    . 
Pickering,  William        .         . 
Pyke  family 

Quarry  .... 

Roman  conquest 
Roger  de  Montgomery 
Ranulph,  Earl  of  Chester 
Routes  .... 

Reeves,  Thomas     .        .        . 
Richardson,  R. 
Rowe,  family  of    . 
Russell,  William 
Roscoe,  William 
Robbers,  conflict  with 
Rower  Miss 

Severus          .... 
Saxons  .... 

Stone  of  Everton 
Soil  of  Everton     .        .        . 
Situation  of  Everton  admirable 
Sabbath  employments   . 
Suppers         .         . 


8 

47 

67 

127 

156 


167 
186 
188 
190 

265 


Pyke,  John             .  .  .192 

Plumpton,  James  .  198,  232 

Potter,  family  of  .  .    259 

Postoffice      .         .  .  .308 

Perry,  William      .  .  .335 

Privy  search           .  .  .     357 

Pinfold  near  the  mere    .  171,  382 

Pauperism     .         .  .179,  384 

Parish  church-rate  .  .    385 

Population     .        .  .  84,415 


Q 


R 


5 

Ross  family 

242 

12 

Robinson,  William 

249 

13 

Rose,  Joshua  (not  Joseph)     . 

253 

143 

Reservoir,  Bootle  Water  Com- 

186 

pany           .... 

268 

187 

Roach,  family  of 

305 

196 

Rice,  family  of 

325 

208 

Rogerson,  Edward 

330 

219 

Rupert,  Prince 

341 

230 

Rental  of  Everton 

415 

239 

S 

8 

Sleeper's-hill 

156 

9 

St.  Domingo  estate,  history  of 

74 

108, 

158 

75 

Sparling,  John,  Esq.  110,  158, 

161 

90 

Sandbach  and  Me  Gregor     . 

167 

125 

Salisbury,  Marquis  of    .       35, 

173 

144 

Sleeper,  Great 

175 

XVI. 


CONTENTS. 


Page 

Page 

Sleeper,  Little       .         .         .176 

School,  Everton  and  Kirkdale    267 

South-east  District         .         .     184 

Signal  station         .         .         .     288 

South  District        .         .         .189 

Stubbs,  Lewis        ...     297 

Syers,  family  of    .         .         .     200 

Sharp,  Miss,  academy   .         .     297 

Strong,  John          .         .         .201 

Shand,  Charles               .         .312 

Slingsby,  Mr.         ...     203 

Smithy,  old         .  .         .         .317 

Shaw,  John            .         .         .204 

Sandiford,  R.      .  .                  .320 

Statham,  family  of        .         .     209 

Soldiers,  Everton  provided  two  341 

Shaw,  Thomas       .         .     206,  215 

Siege  of  Liverpool         .         .       — 

South-west  District        .         .       — 

Skeletons,  two,  found    .         .     345 

Shaw-street            ...       — 

Savage,  Mr.             .         .         .     347 

Seacome  family     .         .         .     225 

Shaw,  William      .         .     327,  362 

Simpson,  Joseph             .         .     242 

Sadler,  the  aeronaut      .         .     380 

Sanderson,  H.  J.    .         .     172,  251 

Soldier,  order  for           .         .     399 

T 

Tenants  of  Everton  apply  to  the 

Taylor,  John          .        .        .     297 

crown  to  purchase  the  manor    27 

Tattersall,  Thomas         .         .     299 

Throstle-nest  cottage     .         .       63 

Topping,  Mrs.        .         .         .     319 

Tristram,  Mr.         ...       68 

Tony,  Everton       .         .         .324 

Tatlock,  family  of         .         .199 

Thompson,  Alex.,  constable  .     360 

Tristram,  family  of       .         .     224 

Taxatory  concerns         .        .     368 

Tarlton,  family  of          .         .     255 

Tables  of  finance,  &c.    .         .     404 

Tatlock,  William           .         .    269 

Tenures         .        .        .94,  433 

V 

Views  from  Everton      .        .        2 

ton  land               ...       79 

Value,  comparative,  of  Ever- 

Verses  on  Everton  barracks  .     378 

W 

William  the  Conqueror         .       12 

Workhouse  projected     .         .171 

Wavertree,  value  of,  in  1327        17 

West  Derby  claims  Everton 

West  Derby   and  Wavertree 

commons    .         .         .       22,  185 

compound  with  James  I.           22 

Williamson,  John           .         .     202 

West  Derby  sold  to  citizens 

Withers,  George             .         .     225 

of  London           ...       23 

West  District         ...     234 

West  Derby,  disputes  with, 

Waterhouse,  N.,  younger       .     239 

about  waste  land         .         .       33 

Wright,  John         ...       — 

Wood  not  abundant  at  Everton     81 

Wainwright,  William    .         .     247 

Will,  surrender  to  use  of,  not 

Wiatt,  family  of    .         .         .251 

necessary             .         .         .106 

Waterhouse,  family  of           .301 

Wakes  of  West  Derby             .     138 

Witchcraft              .         .         .341 

Woodhouse,  Samuel      .         .157 

Workhouse,  Ormskirk,  &c.  349,  351 

Whalley,  Mr.         .         .         .165 

Watching       .         .         .         .370 

HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 


SECTION  I. 


INTRODUCTION. 


EVERTON  is  a  Township  and  Manor,  in  the  parish 
of  Walton-on-the-hill,  in  the  county  of  Lancaster. 
The  township  extends,  in  length,  from  north  to  south, 
1^  mile;  its  greatest  hreadth,  east  and  west,  is  1 
mile  and  1  furlong ;  it  is  distant  about  1^  mile  from 
the  east  bank  of  the  Mersey,  and  about  3  miles  from 
the  mouth,  or  entrance,  of  that  river. 

On  the  north,  Everton  is  bounded  by  the  township 
of  Walton,  and  the  village  of  Kirkdale ;  on  the  east, 
also,  by  the  lands  of  Walton ;  on  the  south,  by  the 
lands  of  the  township  of  West  Derby,  and  village  of 
Low-hill ;  and,  on  the  west,  by  the  town  and  lands 
of  the  borough  and  parish  of  Liverpool. 

Everton  is  situated  in  53°  22'  north  latitude,  and 
in  2°  28'  west  longitude,  from  the  meridian  of  London ; 
from  which  city  it  is  distant  202  miles. 

There  are  few  places  in  England,  or  indeed  in  any 
other  country,  so  highly  favoured,  by  situation,  as 

B 


2  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

Evertou;  in  picturesque,  beautiful,  and  interesting 
scenery,  it  has  scarcely  a  rival  in  Britain.  On  its 
western  side,  it  rises  with  gentle  acclivity,  until  its 
crest,  or  the  summit  of  its  brow,  acquires  a  com- 
manding eminence,  which  overlooks  the  modern  Tyre. 

From  the  western  parts  of  Everton-hill  may  be 
plainly  seen  the  fertile  lands  of  Cheshire,  the  moun- 
tains of  Wales,  the  river  Mersey,  and  the  expanding 
Irish  Sea,  where  numberless  vessels  are  continually 
moving,  ingressing  and  egressing  to  and  from 
Albion's  Western  Emporium :  and,  in  favourable 
weather,  the  spectator  on  Everton-hill  may  behold 
the  Isle  of  Man,  and  the  bold  promontories  of  the 
north  coast  of  Wales.  From  the  northern  part  of 
Everton  may  be  seen,  in  the  north-west,  the  estuary 
of  the  Mersey,  the  channels  by  which  the  haven  of 
Liverpool  is  approached  and  left,  and,  at  times,  the 
dangerous  sand-banks  that  extend  from  the  estuary 
of  the  Mersey  for  many  leagues  sea-ward,  the  dread 
of  pilots  and  poor  mariners :  more  northwardly,  also 
is  seen,  from  Everton' s  northern  parts,  the  extensive 
and  deeply-indented  bay  of  Bootle,  the  marshes  of 
Bank  Hall,  the  wan-en  of  Crosby,  several  jutting 
promontories  on  the  sea-board,  and  the  church  and 
hamlet  of  Walton-on-the-hill ;  whilst  the  distant  hills 
of  Cumberland,  Westmoreland,  and  Yorkshire  fringe 
the  horizon,  and  bound  the  spectator's  view  on  the 
north  and  north-east. 

About  mid-way  on  the  eastern  edge  of  Everton 
the  land  gradually  slopes,  until  it  joins  the  extensive 


INTRODUCTION.  3 

plains  of  neighbouring  townships,  over  which  are  in- 
terspersed gentle  mounds  and  rising  hillocks,  which 
relieve  the  prospect  from  tame  flatness :  and,  from 
those  eastern  parts,  taking  an  inland  view,  in  the 
proper  season,  may  be  seen  all  that  can  be  desired  of 
rural  beauty;  the  eye  being  relieved  by  a  view  of 
lofty  hills  in  the  distance;  the  intermediate  plains 
serving  the  husbandman  for  an  area  where  he  per- 
forms his  agricultural  labours  profitably  to  himself, 
and  advantageously  to  the  population  in  his  neigh- 
bourhood. 

On  the  south,  Everton  is  joined  to  land  of  equal, 
if  not  superior  elevation  with  itself;  consequently,  the 
extent  of  prospect  from  its  southern  border  is  circum- 
scribed and  limited. 

The  western  parts  of  Everton  are  rapidly  assimi- 
lating and  connecting  themselves  with  Liverpool; 
numberless  dwellings  are  here  annually  erected; 
nay,  so  magical  is  now  the  builder's  power,  that,  it 
might  be  said,  many  dwellings  are  constructed  in  this 
quarter  weekly, — generally  but  small  domiciles,  and 
chiefly  intended  for  the  occupation  of  the  humble : 
but  the  slope  of  the  brow,  and  the  platform-crest,  are 
studded  over  with  beautiful  villas  and  elegant  man- 
sions, where  the  wealthy  children  of  the  commerce  of 
Liverpool,  and  the  retired  gentry,  with  their  families, 
reside.  In  fine,  such  is  Everton  at  this  day;  a 
delectable  spot  indeed,  and  almost  entitled  to  the 
denomination  of  Modern  Arcadia. 


4  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

It  may,  however,  be  as  well  now  to  enter  on  an 
enquiry  touching  its  ancient  state,  commencing  with 
its  first  known  existence  as  a  residence  of  man ;  and 
proceed  to  notice  such  events  as  appear  to  be  con- 
nected with  every  period  of  its  general,  and,  what 
may  be  termed,  its  local  history. 

Everton  has  its  name  inscribed  on  the  pages  of  the 
Doomsday  Book;  but,  prior  to  the  epoch  in  which 
that  book  was  composed,  its  history  would  seem  to  be 
buried  in  the  sea  of  oblivion,  where  it  now  lies,  be- 
yond the  reach  of  the  penetrative  and  studious  en- 
quirer. The  most  expert  antiquarians  have  not  been 
able  to  dive  deep  enough  into  that  unknown  depth, 
and,  in  all  likelihood,  never  will,  so  as  to  restore  to 
the  light  of  day  the  minutia  of  its  history  antecedent 
to  the  eleventh  century.  Common  place,  in  all  like- 
lihood, were  the  events  in  which  Everton  was  con- 
cerned when  possessed  by  the  ancient  Britons  or 
aborigines ;  it  probably  never  was,  in  their  time,  the 
site  of  city,  castle,  or  palace,  nor  the  scene  on  which 
warriors  strove  for  glory  or  victory ;  but  that  war  and 
slaughter  have  often  erected  their  destroying  stand- 
ards in  places  not  remote  from  Everton,  is  made 
evident  by  authentic  information ;  and,  doubtless, 
many  a  time  and  oft,  the  ancient  inhabitants  of 
Everton  have  witnessed  the  array  of  passing  war- 
riors, the  shouts  of  pursuing  victors,  and  the  lamenta- 
tions of  the  flying  vanquished. 

When  Caesar  landed  in  Britain,  that  which  is  now 


INTRODUCTION.  O 

Lancashire*  formed  a  part  of  the  kingdom  or  province 
of  the  Brigand,  one  of  seventeen  states  into  which 
Britain  was  in  those  days  divided :  the  inhabitants  of 
that  part  or  division  of  the  dominions  of  the  Briganti, 
which  is  now  named  Lancashire,  had  then  the  distinc- 
tive appellative  of  Segantii,  or  Sestuntii;  and  those 
inhabitants,  as  well  also  as  all  the  Britons  of  remote 
times,  were  a  rude,  barbarous  race  of  people,  who,  in 
winter,  dwelt  in  caves,  and  in  summer,  resided  in  tem- 
porary, ill-constructed  wooden  huts.  The  use  of  clothes 
was  unknown  to  those  semi-savages ;  some  of  them, 
indeed,  partially  covered  themselves  with  the  skins  of 
animals,  but  such  covering  was  only  used  occasionally, 
on  the  reception  of  strangers,  or  in  very  inclement 
weather,  or  during  the  performance  of  certain  cere- 
monies, but  seldom,  if  ever,  as  a  tribute  to  decency. 
Of  comfort,  they  had  scarcely  an  idea ;  their  bodies 
were  painted  entirely  over  with  the  juice  of  woad ; 
their  wives  they  had  in  common ;  in  short,  taking 
them  as  represented  at  the  Roman  conquest,  they  were 
a  race  as  barbarous  and  uncivilized  as  the  Arabs  of 
the  desert :  and  yet,  lovely  and  gentle  fair  ones,  wise 
and  wealthy  lords,  of  these  enlightened,  civilized,  and 
happy  days,  from  this  race  have  ye  all  sprung ! 
These  aborigines  were,  however,  brave  and  hardy, 

*  It  was  after  the  Norman  conquest,  that  certain  territorial  divisions  of 
England  were  designated,  or  known  by  the  names  of  counties ;  but  in 
the  time  of  the  Saxons,  after  Egbert  had  reduced  the  Heptarchy  into 
one  monarchy,  those  divisions,  or  the  main  parts  of  them,  even  as  they 
now  exist,  were  formed,  and  were  originally  called  "  shires, "  a  name  they 
still  retain,  in  common  with  the  French  term,  "  county. " 


6  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

and  though  to  have  the  fact  of  consanguinity  blazoned 
forth,  may  be  unpalateable  to  the  dainty,  the  squeam- 
ish, and  the  proud  of  the  present  day,  yet  it  is  but 
recording  a  truth  to  state  that,  however  mixed  with 
other  blood,  from  those  semi-barbarians  are  the  present 
civilized,  social,  and  polished  children  of  Britain 
descended ;  nor  must  it  be  forgotten,  that  the  brave  and 
undaunted  spirit  of  our  forefathers,  rude  and  barbarous 
as  they  were,  has,  in  a  great  degree,  been  permitted 
to  descend  to  their  posterity;  the  firm,  unrivalled 
courage  of  the  Waterloo  heroes  was  an  inheritance 
which  had  descended  through  a  long  line  of  ancestry, 
from  the  aboriginal  Britains  to  the  Waterloo  heroes, 
that  phalanx  which  fought  for  and  achieved  the 
freedom  of  Europe,  on  the  18th  June,  1815,  under 
the  great  captain  of  the  age. 

It  is  probable  that  Everton,  at  the  time  of  the 
Roman  invasion,  and  indeed  long  before  that  epoch, 
was  a  rude  hamlet,  or  cluster  of  caverns.  The 
probability  is  grounded  on  its  being  situated  in  the 
vicinity  of  a  noble  river ;  but  more  particularly  on 
Everton's  proximity  to  West  Derby,  which,  even  in 
the  ninth  and  tenth  centuries,  was  in  a  great  measure, 
if  not  altogether,  a  forest,  or  nearly  covered  with 
wood ;  out  of  which  forest,  as  will  be  hereafter  shewn, 
Everton  had  in  early  days,  and  for  a  length  of  time  after, 
the  right  of  estovers:  it  is  therefore,  indeed,  very 
probable,  that  the  wants  of  the  earliest  inhabitants  of 
Evertou  had  caused  them,  in  the  first  instance,  to  cut 
down  the  timber  of  their  own  ground ;  but,  in 


INTRODUCTION.  7 

progress  of  time,  they  were  necessitated  to  extend 
those  limits  for  a  continued  supply  of  that  constantly- 
needed  article,  for  architectural  and  other  purposes 
and  uses  :  on  such  occasions,  they  naturally  resorted 
to  the  forests  and  woods  nearest  to  their  domiciles. 

The  Briganti,  however,  after  the  Romans  had 
conquered  the  states  of  Britain,  were  impatient  of 
their  rule,  and  shortly  appeared  again  in  arms  against 
their  subduers;  hut  their  insurrection  was  speedily 
quelled,  by  the  Roman  general,  Ostorius.  Still  there 
is  no  trace  in  tradition  to  fix  the  scene  of  any  of  those 
warlike  operations  on  the  site  of  Everton.  It  is 
probable,  however,  that  its  inhabitants  witnessed  the 
flight  of  Caractacus,  who,  on  being  defeated,  in  a 
great  battle  fought  by  him  against  the  Romans,  at 
a  place  named  Caer-Caradoc,  in  Shropshire,  fled  to 
Cartismunda,  Queen  of  the  Brigantes,  who,  alas  for 
the  honour  of  one  of  Everton' s  sovereigns !  basely  de- 
livered the  unfortunate  chieftain  into  the  hands  of  the 
Romans;  but  the  treacherous  Cartismunda  was  en- 
treated according  to  her  deserts,  being  deposed  by 
her  subjects  :  and  thus  were  the  people,  of  whom  the 
Evertonians  formed  a  part,  driven  again  into  Avar 
with  the  Romans,  who  strove  in  vain  to  re-instate 
Cartismunda. 

The  Briganti  fought  bravely,  under  Queen  Boadicea; 
nor  ought  it  be  deemed  an  overstretch  of  fancy,  that 
some  Everton  heroes  ranged  themselves  under  her 
banners.  Boadicea,  after  various  turns  of  fortune, 
was  ultimately,  in  one  great  battle,  overthrown,  with 


8  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

great  slaughter,  she  herself  escaping  with  great  diffi- 
culty from  the  field.  That  calamity  caused  her  to  put  an 
end  to  her  existence  by  poison.  Soon  after  Boadicea's 
death,  the  Brigantes,  and  indeed  all  Britain,  sub- 
mitted to  the  Roman  yoke. 

About  the  year  140,  the  Brigantes  again  revolted, 
but  were  soon  reduced  by  the  Roman  general,  Lollius 
Urbicus.  From  this  period,  Britain  is  little  noticed 
in  history,  till  Severus  divided  the  country  into  two 
provinces.  The  number  was  afterwards  increased 
to  three,  by  Constantine  the  Great,  or  rather  to  four ; 
viz.  Britannia  prima,  Britannia  secundi,  and  Maxima 
Cresariensis ;  a  portion  of  the  last  was  afterwards 
erected  into  a  separate  province,  under  the  title  of 
Flavia  CaBsariensis.  It  is  stated  that  Everton  formed 
part  of  Flavia  Caesariensis;*  but  that  statement  is  open 
to  doubt,  there  being  good  grounds,  in  various  excel- 
lent authorities,  to  support  the  belief,  that  Lancashire 
remained  a  part  and  portion  of  Maxima  Caesariensis. 
From  the  reign  of  Constantine  to  that  of  Honorius, 
the  Roman  rule  in  Britain  gradually  declined ;  Rome 
being  distant,  and  herself  in  danger,  neglected  to  send 
forces  to  keep  Britain  in  safety.  In  the  reign  of  the 
latter  Emperor,  the  British  found  themselves  greatly 
annoyed,  not  only  by  the  Picts  and  Scots,  but  by  the 
Saxons  also.  The  Romans  at  length  (about  the  year 
430)  finally  abandoned  the  shores  of  Britain. 

After  the  departure  of  the  Romans,  the  Scots  and 
Picts  again  invaded  Britain,  and  although  they  were 

*  Kennion's  MSS.,  as  noticed  in  Gregson's  Fragments  of  Lancashire. 


INTRODUCTION.  9 

met  with  desperate  courage  on  the  part  of  the  Britons, 
who  even  once  succeeded  in  driving  them  back  into 
their  own  territories,  north  of  the  great  wall,  yet, 
so  restless  and  daring  were  their  enemies,  that  the 
Britons,  at  length,  found  themselves  necessitated  to 
ask  aid  of  the  Saxons.  Here  commences  a  new  sera 
in  British  history,  to  which  Everton  is  indebted  for 
its  name,  or  rather,  for  a  name  from  which  its  present 
title  is  derived. 

The  warlike  Saxons  came  in  numbers,  at  the  call  of 
the  Britons,  to  aid  them  in  the  expulsion  of  the  Scots 
and  Picts ;  but,  ultimately,  the  Saxons  formed  a 
truce,  and  concluded  a  peace,  with  the  tribes  they 
were  summoned  to  expel.  Turning  their  arms 
against  the  Britons,  the  Saxons  overran  their  land, 
and,  in  the  year  458,  became  conquerors  and  rulers  of 
the  whole  of  Britain,  with  the  exception  of  a  part  of 
Wales. 

Of  the  Heptarchy,  it  is  not  necessary  to  treat 
minutely  ;  it  may  suffice  to  state,  that  Everton,  in  the 
Heptarchial  dominional  divisions,  became  a  part  of 
the  kingdom  of  Northumberland,  and  so  remained 
during  the  reigns  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  monarchs  of 
the  Heptarchy;  a  period  of  time,  during  the  whole  of 
which  the  inhabitants  of  Britain  seem  to  have  been 
buried  in  profound  ignorance.  That  period  is  too  far 
distant  from  our  own  times  to  allow  tradition  to  wear 
the  garb  of  truth.  The  Northumbrians,  however, 
were  brave ;  and,  at  the  termination  of  the  Heptarchy, 
they  were  the  last  of  the  Heptarchial  subjects  that 


10  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

submitted  to  the  government  of  Egbert,  who,  about 
the  year  827,  became  sole  monarch  of  Britain;  the 
name  of  which  he  then  changed  to  Angle-land,  or 
England.*  About  five  years  after  Egbert  had 
established  his  new  monarchy,  the  Anglo-Saxons 
began  to  be  annoyed  by  the  incursions  of  the  Danes ; 
who,  at  length,  subjected  Northumberland.  Under 
the  Danish  chiefs,  the  Northumbrians  made  many 
irruptions  into  Mercia,  of  which  kingdom  or  dominion 
Shropshire  and  Cheshire  were  parts.  During  those 
wars,  the  people  of  Everton  must  have  frequently 
witnessed,  if  they  were  not  co-operating  parties  in,  the 
conflicts  which  frequently  took  place,  and  were  long 
continued,  in  their  near  neighbourhood. 

In  such  wars,  the  restless  Northumbrians  were 
continually  engaged,  until,  soon  after  the  year  1016, 
Canute  became  King  of  all  England.  Harold  and 
Hardicanute  succeeded  Canute;  and  Edward  the 
Confessor  next  reigned.  Of  a  castle  erected  by 
Edward  the  Confessor,  at  a  short  distance  from  the 
south-east  extremity  of  Everton,  it  is  intended  here- 
after to  treat. 

In  the  time  of  Edward  the  Confessor,  the  govern- 
ment of  Northumbria  fell  into  the  hands  of  one  Tosti, 
a  younger  son  of  the  celebrated  Earl  Godwin.  This 
Tosti  was  a  cruel  tyrant,  and,  at  length,  drove  the 
Northumbrians  into  rebellion.  They,  however,  even- 
tually submitted,  and  were  pardoned  by  the  King,  at 
the  intercession  of  Harold  the  elder,  brother  to  Tosti. 

*  Leycester's  History  of  Cheshire,  as  deduced  from  various  authorities. 


INTRODUCTION.  11 

Tosti  fled  to  Flanders,  but  subsequently  made  an 
irruption  into  Northumberland,  to  serve  the  cause  of 
Duke  William,  afterwards  William  I.,  the  Conqueror 
and  King  of  England. 

There  is  little  doubt  of  the  castle,  erected  near  to 
Everton  by  Edward  the  Confessor,  having  been 
placed  there  to  keep  the  restless  Northumbrians  in 
check ;  and  many  a  deed  of  arms  has  unquestionably 
been  performed  in  the  vicinage  of  the  place,  both 
during  and  after  Edward's  reign. 

At  the  instigation  of  the  Duke  of  Normandy,  Tosti 
effected  a  landing  with  his  troops  in  Northumberland, 
and  was  at  first  successful  \  but  his  brother  Harold, 
who,  on  the  death  of  Edward  the  Confessor,  became 
King  of  England,  met  and  defeated  him,  at  the  head 
of  the  troops  he  had  raised  in  Norway.  The  battle 
was  fought  at  a  place  called  Sandford. 

Tosti  was  totally  defeated,  and  slain;  but  Harold- 
had  scarcely  time  to  rejoice  at  his  victory,  ere  the 
news  was  brought  to  him  of  the  landing  of  Duke 
William  in  England. 

Harold  soon  after  met  William,  who  was  at  the 
head  of  his  Norman  forces,  at  Hastings.  Harold 
was  defeated  there  and  slain,  and  England  submitted 
to  the  Norman  conqueror. 

Of  Tosti,  there  are  many  traditionary  accounts, 
but  they  are  certainly  too  vague  and  too  vile  to  be 
credited,  to  their  full  extent ;  yet  his  character  must 
have  been  mainly  and  deeply  founded  on  deeds  of 
wickedness  ;  and,  doubtless,  in  his  days,  very 


12  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

frequently,  lias  the  blood  of  the  inhabitants  of  Ever- 
ton  been  curdled  in  their  veins,  and  their  cheeks 
blanched,  as  tales  were  recounted  to  them  of  that 
tyrant's  transactions ;  or  when,  perchance,  as  is  not 
unlikely,  they  were  eye-witnesses  to  atrocities  en- 
acted by  him,  or  at  his  command. 

Thus,  from  time  antecedent  to  that  of  Julius  Caesar, 
unto  that  of  William  the  Conqueror,  has  a  brief  out- 
line been  given  of  the  history  of  that  part  of  England 
in  which  Everton  is  seated.  What  has  been  treated 
of  has,  however,  no  pretension  to  be  styled  local 
history;  it  is,  indeed,  acknowledged  that  there  are  no 
data  extant,  sufficiently  credible,  wherewith  to  frame 
such  a  history,  during  those  ages  of  ignorance  and 
tumult. 

But,  leaving  the  broad  ground  over  which  the 
foregoing  remarks  have  travelled,  it  may  be  proper 
now  to  strike  into  narrower  limits,  and  only  branch 
off  into  general  matter,  when  the  context  absolutely 
requires  it. 

By  a  grant  which  William  the  Conqueror  made, 
about  the  year  1066,  to  his  cousin,  Roger  de 
'  Poictiers,  the  third  son  to  Roger  de  Mont- 
gomery, of  lands  in  Lancashire,  lying  between  the 
rivers  Ribble  and  Mersey,  Everton  became  a  part  of 
Roger's  barony,  or  honour ;  but  Roger,  having 
taken  part  in  the  rebellion  against  his  monarch, 
was  banished,  and  his  estates  were  forfeited.  To  treat 
of  Roger's  forfeiture,  and  the  successive  proprietors 
immediately  after  him,  would  afford  no  interest  to 


INTRODUCTION.  13 

the  reader,  nor  would  it  aid  the  object  in  view. 
Passing  by  those  and  such  like  circumstances,  the 
earliest  notice  extant  of  Everton,  separately  and 
individually,  receiving  regal  consideration,  is  in  a 

mandate,   issued   in  the    9th  of  Henry  III., 
1225. 

anno  1225.     The  monarch,  in  that  mandate,* 

commands  the  sheriff  of  Lancashire  "to  permit  his 
tenants  of  Everton  to  have  reasonable  estovers  out 
of  the  king's  wood  at  West  Derby,  as  they  were 
used  to  have  in  the  time  of  his  father,  King  John ; 
and  that  he  do  not  compel  them  to  do  other  suit  and 
service  than  they  were  accustomed  to  in  the  time 
aforesaid." 

From  this,  and  other  ancient  documents,  it  ap- 
pears, that  Everton,  in  the  thirteenth  century  (and, 
in  all  likelihood,  long  antecedent  to  that  time),  was  a 
distinct  township  or  manor  of  itself,  and  no  part  or 
parcel  of  the  township  or  manor  of  West  Derby ;  the 
tenants  of  Everton  holding  their  lands  by  yearly  rent 
and  service  to  the  king. 

In  the  year  1229,  by  the  King's  letters 
'  patent,  Everton  became  the  property  of  Ra- 
nulph,  or  Handle,  Earl  of  Chester.  This  Ranulph 
was  a  brave  and  intrepid  warrior ;  he  espoused 
the  cause  of  the  young  Prince  Henry  (after- 
wards Henry  III.),  when  Louis,  the  Dauphin  of 
France,  was  called  by  the  discontented  barons  to 


*  "  This  mandate  is  directed  to  the  Sheriff  of  the  County  of  Lancaster 
(and  not  to  the  Steward  or  other  officer  of  West  Derby),  which  sheweth 
Everton  is  a  distinct  manor. " — SEACOME'S  MS. 


14  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

wear  the  crown,  and  to  rule  over  England.  Louis 
continued  for  some  time  to  march  triumphantly  over 
our  then  unhappy  land,  but  the  prudence  and  valour 
of  Ranulph,  and  other  loyal  nobles,  forced  the  foreign 
prince  to  forego  his  ambitious  projects;  and  those 
loyal  noblemen  eventually  fixed  their  legitimate  na- 
tive prince  on  the  throne  of  his  ancestors :  nor  was 
King  Henry  unmindful  of  the  obligation,  for  Ranulph 
continued  ever  after  to  stand  high  in  the  esteem  and 
favour  of  his  sovereign,  whose  cause  he  had  so  bene- 
ficially succoured,  and  whose  rights  he  had  so  suc- 
cessfully upheld  and  secured.  Ranulph  was  low  of 
stature,  and  in  personal  appearance  altogether  plain, 
little,  if  at  all,  superior  in  that  respect  to  the  humblest 
plebeians  of  his  day ;  but,  in  the  hour  of  enterprize, 
his  features  became  animated ;  in  the  moments  of 
excitement,  his  very  nature  seemed  to  change.  In 
times  of  peace  he  was  idolized  in  his  domestic  circle, 
and  revered  and  beloved  by  his  numerous  tenants 
and  vassals ;  whilst  in  the  hour  of  battle,  he  was  ever 
the  terror  of  his  foes.  His  hatred  of  Louis,  and  of 
all  Frenchmen,  was  as  excessive,  as  his  love  and 
loyalty  to  his  young  sovereign  were  boundless. 

On  the  demise  of  King  John,  Earl  Ranulph  suc- 
coured and  secreted  the  young  Prince  Henry,  until, 
by  the  wisdom,  talent,  and  energy  of  the  Earl,  and 
other  nobles,  the  claims  and  attempts  of  the  Dauphin 
of  France  on  the  crown  of  England  were  nullified  and 
destroyed;  and,  ultimately,  the  victory  achieved  at 
Lincoln  over  the  Frenchman  and  his  adherents, 


INTRODUCTION.  15 

secured  to  the  legitimate  Prince  Henry,  England's 
proud  throne.  This  was  principally  effected  through 
the  bravery  and  ability  of  Everton's  lord  and  master. 
Ranulph  dying  without  issue,  Everton  became  the 
property  of  Agnes,  one  of  his  four  sisters,  who  mar- 
ried William  de  Ferrers,  Earl  of  Derby.  Agnes 
became  possessed  also  of  the  castle  and  town  of  West 
Derby ;  and,  in  fine,  of  all  the  lands  which  belonged 
to  the  said  Earl  Ranulph,  lying  between  the  rivers 
Ribble  and  Mersey. 

In  the  33d  Henry  III.,  anno  1249,  William 
'  de  Ferrers,  son  and  heir  to  the  aforesaid  Wil- 
liam de  Ferrers,  Earl  of  Derby,  had  the  King's  man- 
date, to  the  Sheriff"  of  Lancashire,  for  the  enjoyment  of 
such  lands,  lying  between  the  rivers  Ribble  and  Mer- 
sey, as  Ranulph,  Earl  of  Chester,  formerly  possessed. 

In  36th  Henry  III.,  anno  1252,  the  said  last 
""  named  William  de  Ferrers  obtained  a  charter 
for  free  warren,  to  himself,  and  his  heirs,  in  all 
his  demesnes  and  lands  throughout  his  lordships  of 
Liverpool,  Everton,  Crosbie,  Wavertree,  Salford,  &c.; 
which  also  sheweth  that  Everton  was  a  distinct  manor, 
or  lordship,  from  West  Derby :  but  the  said  Earl  had 
previously,  in  33d  Henry  III.,  anno  1249,  first 
erected  the  two  manors  of  West  Derby  and  Waver- 
tree by  his  charter  or  grant  of  custom,  and  instituted 
the  copyhold  estates  there  ;*  yet  he  made  no  alteration 
as  to  the  tenure  of  Everton. 

*  In  these,  or  the  like  words,  "  that  lands  shall  be  let  on  him  that 
bought  them,  if  he  can  agree  reasonably  with  the  Steward;   in  case 


16  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

In  38tli  Henry  III.,  anno  1254,  the  said 
'last  named  Earl  of  Derby  died,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Robert  his  son,  who  was  the  last  Earl  of 
Derby  of  this  family,  and  who  forfeited  all  his  great 
estates  in  Lancashire  to  Edmund,  younger  son  of 
King  Henry  III.,  who  became  Earl  of  Derby. 

Edmund  died  in  24th  Edward  I.,  anno  1296, 
"  and  was  succeeded  in  honours  and  estate  by  his 
eldest  son  Thomas,  Earl  of  Leicester,  Derby,  &c. 
The  said  Thomas  gave  Everton,  together  with  other 
manors,  to  one  Robert  de  Holland,  a  favourite  of  his. 
It  would  appear,  however,  that  on  the  death  of  the 
said  Thomas,  Robert  de  Holland  had  no  virtual  title 
to  produce;  Everton,  consequently,  reverted  to  the 
last  named  Earl's  family,  and  became  a  possession  of 
Henry,  Earl  of  Lancaster,  Leicester,  Derby,  &c., 
brother  to  the  said  Thomas,  and  his  successor  in 
honours  and  estate.  The  demise  of  the  said  Thomas 
must  have  occurred  prior  to  the  1st  Edward  III.,  anno 
1327 ;  for  in  that  year,  at  an  inquisition  taken 
'  at  Lancaster,  before  one  Simon  de  Grimsty,  it 
is  stated,  "  that  Thomas,  late  Earl  of  Lancaster,  &c., 
held  in  fee  various  manors  "  (of  which  Everton  was 
one),  "  by  the  service  of  rendering  an  ambling  nag, 
or  40s.  per  annum — and  that  there  is  at  West  Derby 
the  site  of  an  ancient  castle — and  that  at  Everton  there 
are  19  nativi,  who  held  24  oxgangs"  (about  13  acres 
each)  "  of  land,  at  £4  1 6s.  rent — and  say  that  the  Lord 

he  cannot  agree  reasonably  with  the  Steward,  the  said  lands  and  tenements 
shall  remain  to  the  seller. " 


INTRODUCTION.  17 

Henry,  Earl  of  Lancaster  and  Leicester,  is  brother  to 
the  said  Thomas,  and  next  heir,  &c."*  At  that 
period,  Liverpool  was  worth  only  £30  10s.  per  annum, 
and  Wavertree  £7  9s.  4d.  per  annum.  Allowing 
five  for  the  family  of  each  nativi,  or  housekeeper,  the 
inhabitants  of  Everton,  at  the  time  here  named,  must 
have  been  in  number  about  one  hundred :  Liverpool, 
Everton,  Wavertree,  Crosby,  Salford,  Toxteth,  and 
Simonswood  were  the  manors  held  of  Edward  I., 
by  the  service  of  an  ambling  nag. 

At  an  inquisition  held  at  Wigan,  1st  Edward 
III.,  anno  1327,  it  appeal's  that  Robert  de 
Holland  entered  into  possession  of  Everton  seven 
years  before  that  period. 

In  25th  Edward  III.,  anno  1352,  Henry, 
"'  Earl  of  Lancaster,  Derby,  &c.,  "  did  give  and 
grant  his  town  of  Everton,  with  all  its  wastes,  &c.,  to 
John  Barret,  yielding  for  the  said  town  four  pounds ;  " 
— but,  in  the  event  of  the  said  John  Barret  dying 
without  issue,  then  Everton  was  to  revert  to  the  Earl 
of  Lancaster,  &c.,  and  to  his  heirs  again,  for  ever. 
This  deed,  which  is  dated  23d  February,  1352,  clearly 

*  In  Seacome's  MS.  it  is  recited  as  follows. — "  By  this  inquisition  it 
appears  that  Everton  was  a  manor  of  itself,  and  no  part  or  parcel  of  West 
Derby;  that  the  tenants  were  19  in  number,  and  held  24  oxgangs  of  land, 
by  suit  and  service  of  the  king,  and  a  yearly  rent.  According  to  the 
best  authors  I  have  met  with,  an  oxgang  of  land  contains  13  acres; 
so  that  24  oxgangs  make  312  acres,  and  agreeable  to  the  quantity  now 
claimed  by  Everton  in  the  whole — viz.  old  enclosures,  130  acres;  new 
enclosures,  60  acres ;  and  common,  120  acres :  also  the  ancient  tenants 
were  19  in  number,  and  the  rent  the  same  we  now  pay." 

C 


18  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

established  Evertou  to  have  been  a  manor  of  itself, 
with  wastes  and  commons  appertaining  to  it. 

The  aforesaid  Henry  afterwards  became  Duke  of 
_  Lancaster,  and  died  in  the  35th  Edward  III., 
'  anno  1362,  leaving  two  daughters,  Maud  and 
Blanch.  Blanch  married  John  of  Gaunt,  Earl  of 
Richmond,  who  afterwards  became  Duke  of  Lancaster; 
and  he  had  for  Blanch's  portion,  amongst  other  lands, 
all  her  father's  lands  in  Lancashire.  John  of  Gaunt 
died,  and  was  succeeded  by  Henry  de  Bolingbroke, 
Earl  of  Derby,  his  eldest  son,  who  afterwards  was 
King  of  England,  by  the  name  of  Henry  IV. ;  where- 
by all  the  aforesaid  lands  (except  Everton)  came  to 
the  crown  again,  where  they  remained  till  the  reign 
of  King  Charles  I.,  when  they  were  sold  to  certain 
citizens  of  London,  as  will  hereafter  appear  at  large. 

It  would  appear  that  the  aforesaid  John  Barret 
14O1  ^e(^  without  issue;  for  in  the  2d  Henry  IV., 
anno  1401,  the  king,  by  grant  or  charter,  re- 
newed or  confirmed  to  his  tenants  of  West  Derby, 
(which  had  also  been  gifted  by  the  aforesaid  Henry, 
Earl  of  Lancaster,  to  John  Barret,)  their  ancient 
tenure,  as  granted  by  the  first  named  William  Ferrers, 
Earl  of  Derby.  Subsequent  circumstances  make  it 
evident  that  Everton,  on  the  demise  of  John  Barret 
without  issue,  also  reverted  to  the  crown. 

It  may  not  be  amiss  here  to  reiterate,  that  King 
Henry  IV.  was  grandson  to  the  before-named  Henry, 
Earl  of  Lancaster,  Derby,  &c. ;  consequently,  Ever- 


INTRODUCTION.  19 

ton  became  the  property  of  that  monarch  in  due  course 
of  inheritance,  on  the  demise  of  John  Barret  without 
issue.* 

In  the  3d  Henry  VII.,  anno  1488,  an  inqui- 
sition was  taken  at  Walton,  which  shows  that 
the  boundary  of  the  south  part  of  Walton,  "beginning 
at  Carton  Cross,  and  following  to  Darling  Dale,  and  to 
the  east  end  thereof,  and  so  over  the  Breck,  by  one 
ancient  ditch  on  the  lands  of  Everton,  called  Hang- 

. 

field,^  on  the  south  part  of  the  common  of  pasture  of 
Walton,  &c."  The  ditch  here  alluded  to  ran  west- 
wardly,  dividing  Walton  Breck  from  Everton  Breck, 
and  other  north  parts  of  Everton  from  the  southern 
limits  of  Walton  township, — Everton  itself  being  in 
the  parish  of  Walton.  All  the  lands  of  Everton  were 
known  by  the  names  of  Hangneld,  Whitefield,  and 
Netherfield ;  and  at  the  time  of  the  inquisition  held 
at  Walton,  anno  1488,  that  part  called  Hangfield  was 
quite  open,  but  has  been  since  enclosed,  and  runs 
along  by  lands  which  were  once  the  commons  of 

*  In  Seacome's  MS.  it  is  written  as  follows  :  "  Now  also  upon  failure 
of  issue  of  John  Barret  (to  whom  the  town  of  Everton  was  given  hy 
Henry,  Earl  of  Lancaster,  25th  Edward  III.)>  the  said  town  returned  to 
the  crown,  pursuant  to  the  said  grant ;  the  exact  time  thereof  I  cannot 
discover ;  but  this  is  the  first  time  (the  MS.  bears  the  marginal  mark  of 
'  17th  James  I.')  I  have  met  with  or  observed  the  officers  of  the  crown 
taking  notice  of  the  said  town  since  the  aforesaid  grant." 

f  This  word  is  frequently  written  Hongfield,  and  by  some  writers 
Houghfield.  I  prefer  Hangfield,  that  name  being  derived  from  hanging, 
or  sloping  field.  To  strengthen  the  propriety  of  my  orthography,  in  this 
particular  instance,  it  may  be  as  well  to  state,  that,  in  Gore's  paper  of 
26th  July,  1810,  certain  fields  of  Walton  are  advertised  as  follows ; — 
"  Fields  in  Walton-on-the-hill,  called  Hanging-fields." 


20  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

Walton,  as  above  described ;  the  ineres  and  bounds 
whereof  are  well  known  to  the  neighbouring  inhabi- 
tants. 

It  is  evident  that,  in  the  15th  century,  and  no 
doubt  long  antecedent  to  that  period,  the  greater 
part  of  the  soil  of  Everton  was  nothing  more  than 
common  or  waste  land.  There  are,  however,  at  the 
present  time,  only  one  or  two  very  insignificant 
patches  unreclaimed  from  their  natural  state;  and 
those  are  all  that  remain  to  the  public  of  the  once 
extensive  commons  of  Everton. 

Progressively,  but  not  rapidly,  have  the  enclosures 
of  the  commons  of  Everton  been  effected ;  and,  doubt- 
less, what  has  been  done  is  mainly  attributable  to 
Everton' s  proximity  to  the  rapidly  encreasing  town 
of  Liverpool,  the  lands  of  Everton  serving  to  depas- 
ture, temporarily  and  conveniently,  the  cattle  intended 
for  the  use  of  that  populous  town.  Not  for  their 
fertility  were  the  wastes  of  Everton  enclosed,  for  the 
soil  is  not  richly  fertile,  nor  highly  productive ;  Kirk- 
dale,  its  neighbour,  has  drained  from  the  north  lands 
of  Everton  some  or  most  of  the  little  freshness  or  fat- 
ness they  ever  possessed ;  the  former  indeed  may  be 
called  the  garden  of  Liverpool.  For  the  privilege  of 
sending  their  cattle  to  depasture  on  the  waste  lands 
and  commons  of  Everton,  the  people  of  Kirkdale  paid 
annually  6s.  8d.  to  the  township  of  Everton ;  and  it 
appears  that  the  township  of  Everton  had  itself  to  pay 
13s.  4d.  annually  to  the  crown,  as  a  quit  or  chief  rent 


INTRODUCTION.  21 

for  the  commons  and  wastes.  Tin's  chief  rent  of 
13s.  4d.,  which  is  called  "  Breck-silver,"  is  still 
annually  paid  to  the  lord  of  the  manor. 

These  wastes  and  commons  are  here  thus  hriefly 
noticed,  preparatory  to  what  immediately  follows. 

In  17th  James  I.,  anno  1620,  a  deputation, 
'  consisting  of  Robert  Fazakerly,  Ralph  Mercer, 
Richard  Bower,  Robert  Worral,  and  John  Wallworth, 
was  sent  by  the  copyholders  of  West  Derby  and 
Wavertree,  to  treat  with  the  crown  touching  a  com- 
position to  be  paid  to  his  majesty,  James  I.,  for  con- 
firmation of  said  copyholders'  estates,  and  for  grant- 
ing the  wastes  and  commons  of  said  manors,  by  copy 
of  court-roll.  At  which  treaty,  it  was  proposed  by 
his  majesty's  commissioners,  "that  such  copyhold 
tenants  of  said  towns  as  shall,  upon  notice  thereof, 
consent  and  agree  to  pay  his  majesty  thirty  years' 
rent  of  their  ancient  rent,  at  the  days  and  times 
therein  mentioned,  his  majesty  would  confirm  to  said 
tenants,  so  agreeing,  and  their  heirs  for  ever,  by 
decree  of  court,  and  by  act  of  parliament,  all  their 
copyhold  lands,  paying,  upon  the  death  of  any  tenant, 
or  upon  surrender  to  be  made,  to  his  majesty,  his 
heirs,  or  successors,  one-third  part  of  the  said  yearly 
rent,  for  a  fine ;  and  that  such  of  his  said  tenants  as 
should  accept  said  composition,  shall  have  and  enjoy, 
to  them  and  their  heirs,  all  the  commons  and  waste 
lands  within  the  said  towns,  the  same  to  be  indif- 
ferently divided  by  commissioners,  and  to  be  granted 
to  said  tenants  by  copy  of  court-roll ;  and  the  yearly 


22  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

rent  of  4d.  per  acre,  of  seven  and  a  half  yards  to  the 
perch,  to  he  paid  his  majesty,  his  heirs,  &c.,  for  ever; 
the  first  payment  to  be  made  within  one  whole  year 
after  such  enclosure,  and  quiet  possession  thereof  be 
obtained." 

To  the  terms  of  this  composition,  it  would  appear, 
the  tenants  of  West  Derby  and  Wavertree  acquiesced, 
"  but  the  people  of  Everton  were  neither  art  nor  part 
concerned  in  the  measure;  neither  did  any  of  them 
appear  at  the  said  treaty ;  being,  in  relation  to  their 
wastes  and  commons,  upon  a  different  footing  with 
either  West  Derby  or  Wavertree,  as  paying  anciently 
both  rent  and  taxes  for  the  same,  as  many  receipts 
certify."*  It  however  happened  that,  under  some 
misconception,  or  mal-interpretation  of  the  decree  of 
court,  or  with  a  view  to  reap  benefit  to  themselves,  at 
the  expense  of  others,  the  copyholders  of  West  Derby 
"surveyed  and  proposed  to  make  allotments  of  the 
wastes  of  Everton,  as  well  amongst  the  copyholders 
and  others  of  Everton,  as  the  copyholders  and  others 
of  West  Derby."  To  this  intended  allotment  of  the 
Everton  wastes,  by  the  people  of  West  Derby,  the 
people  of  Everton  stoutly  demurred,  and  against 
which  the  copyholders  of  Everton  made  vigorous 
efforts  of  resistance ;  applying  themselves  to  the 
honourable  court  of  the  duchy,  and  there  making  it 
appear  that  Everton  was  a  manor  of  itself,  known  by 
the  meres  and  bounds,  distinct  from  West  Derby; 
and  that  the  wastes  of  Everton  had,  time  out  of  mind, 

*  MS.  of  Seacome. 


INTRODUCTION.  28 

been  taken  and  had  by  the  tenants  of  Everton.  The 
result  of  the  application  made  by  the  copyholders  of 
Everton  to  the  duchy  court,  will  be  best  understood 
from  a  copy  of  the  order  issued  by  that  court, 
18th  James  I.,  anno  1621.  The  order  ran 
thus : — "  It  is  ordered  that  the  allotments  and  en- 
closures of  the  wastes  of  Everton  shall  stay  and  be 
forborne  till  further  hearing  of  said  difference,  at 
which  time  this  court  will  order  to  whom  the  said 
wastes  of  Everton  shall  be  granted."  After  the 
issuing  of  this  order,  it  would  appear  that  the  pro- 
ceedings altogether  dropt,  and  the  tenants  of  Everton 
remained  in  quiet  and  peaceable  possession,  as  for- 
merly.* 

In  the  4th  Charles  I.,  anno  1629,  the  king, 
'  by  letters  patent,  dated  14th  June,  1629, 
granted  to  Edward  Ditchfield,  John  Highlord,  Hum- 
phrey Clarke,  and  Francis  Mosse,  citizens  of  London, 
and  to  their  heirs,  (amongst  other  things)  the  manor 
of  West  Derby.  Under  colour  of  which  patent,  the 
said  patentees  claimed,  not  only  West  Derby,  but 
likewise  the  manors  of  Wavertree,  and  of  Everton, — 
"  which  then  were,  and  time  out  of  mind  had  been, 
several  and  distinct  manors  of  themselves,  paying 
distinct  and  several  rents  (still  answered  and  paid)  to 
his  majesty,  and  his  progenitors,  for  the  same ;  and, 


*  There  is  a  false  surrender  in  the  town's  chest,  which,  it  is  sup- 
posed, was  fabricated  to  give  a  colour  to  the  claims  of  West  Derby  on 
and  to  a  participation  of  property  and  right  in  the  wastes  and  commons 
of  Everton. 


24  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

therefore,  not  passed  from  his  majesty  by  the  said 
letters  patent  and  grant  of  the  said  manor  of  West 
Derby."  Thus  were  the  tenants  of  Everton  instructed 
by  their  counsel  learned  in  the  law. 

The  tenants  of  Everton  refusing  to  pay  unto  the 
afore-named  patentees  any  suit  or  service,  at  their 
court  held  at  West  Derby,  the  said  patentees  caused 
their  goods  to  be  distrained,  and  the  said  tenants  of 
Everton  replevied  the  said  distresses ;  upon  which,  a 
suit  at  law  commenced  by  the  said  patentees  against 
the  tenants  of  Wavertree,  and  of  Everton,  who,  being 
but  poor  men,  and  unable  to  contest  the  same  with 
the  city  of  London,  did,  in  the  month  of  May, 
'  1632,  petition  his  majesty  to  refer  the  exami- 
nation and  decision  of  the  said  difference  to  the  then 
chancellor  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster :  to  which  peti- 
tion his  majesty  wras  pleased  to  accede,  ordering  the 
chancellor  of  the  duchy,  assisted  by  his  majesty's 
attorney-general,  to  take  the  case  into  consideration, 
and  "  as  they  shall  find  most  equal  and  agreeable  to 
truth  and  justice,  by  the  best  and  fittest  means  they 
can,  satisfy  the  doubts  and  differences  of  the  dis- 
putants." 

On  the  20th  June,  1632,  Lord  Newburgh,  the 
then  chancellor  of  the  duchy  of  Lancaster,  called  on 
the  parties  disputant  to  assemble  at  the  duchy-house, 
in  the  Strand,  London,  on  the  6th  November  then 
next  ensuing ;  which  assembly  or  meeting  took  place. 
When  counsel  for  the  disputants  were  heard,  the 
judges  (being  the  chancellor,  the  lord  chief  baron  of 


INTRODUCTION.  25 

the  exchequer,  and  the  attorney-general),  on 
'the  23d  Decemher,  1633,  ordered  as  follows: 
"That  the  tenants  of  Wavertree,  and  of  Everton, 
may  keep  their  rents  in  their  hands,  and  shall  not  be 
troubled  by  distress,  or  other  process,  out  of  this 
court,  for  the  same,  until  such  time  as  they  have 
direction  from  this  court  to  whom  they  shall  pay  the 
same." 

The  aforenamed  patentees  were  not  satisfied  with 
-  this  order,  and  therefore,  on  the  23d  June,  1634, 
'  (intending  to  weary  out  the  poor  tenants) 
brought  their  bill  in  chancery,*  and  also  amerced  and 
distrained  said  tenants  for  non-payment  of  their  rents, 
and  for  not  appearing  and  doing  their  service,  &c. ; 
whereupon,  on  the  20th  November,  1634,  the  said 
tenants  again  applied  to  the  court  of  the  duchy,  and 
that  court  thereupon  made  the  following  order : — 
"  That  the  bailiff  of  the  manor  of  West  Derby,  upon 
notice  of  this  order,  shall  forbear  to  impose,  collect,  or 
gather  any  fines  or  amercements  of  any  of  said  tenants 
and  inhabitants  of  Wavertree,  and  of  Eveiion,  for 
not  appearing  or  doing  service  at  the  said  halmote- 

*  The  parties  to  the  bill  were, — 

Edward  Ditch  field,  -|  Rowland  Johnson,  •> 

John  Highlord,  Anthony  Johnson, 

Humphrey  Clarke,      f  Plaintiffs.  R  Mosse> 

Francis  Mosse,  John  Mosse, 

Ralph  Higginson, 

T  ,      TT  r  Defendants. 

John  Henshaw, 

James  Ackers, 
Thomas  Greaves, 
Thomas  Gover, 
James  Woolfall,      j 


2(5  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

courts,  kept  for  the  said  manor  of  West  Derby,  or  for 
any  other  matter  against  them  or  any  of  them  in 
anywise." 

On  the  llth  February,  1635,*  the  court  of 
'  chancery  dismissed  the  cause  depending  out  of 
that  court,  "  and  the  rights  of  Everton  were  esta- 
blished, and  possessions  quieted  as  before  : "  but  this, 
as  will  shortly  appear,  did  not  put  an  end  to  the 
disputes  and  legal  proceedings  between  the  -said 
patentees,  and  the  tenants  of  Wavertree,  and  of 
Everton. 

On  the  17th  February,  1635,  the  court  of  chancery 
issued  the  following  order : — "  It  is  ordered  that  the 
receiver-general  shall  forthwith  receive  from  the  te- 
nants of  Everton  the  amounts  of  their  rents,  being  in 
arrrear  two  and  a  half  years,  ended  at  the  feast  of 
St.  Michael  the  archangel  last  past,  amounting  in 
toto  to  £12  lls.  lid.;  the  said  receiver,  on  payment 
thereof,  shall  give  them  an  acquittance  for  the  same : 
and  it  is  further  ordered,  that  from  henceforth  they 
shall  continue  the  payment  of  the  said  rents  to  the 
said  receiver-general,  as  they  shall  grow  due,  till  this 
court  take  further  order  therein  to  the  contrary :  and 
it  is  last  ordered,  that  none  of  the  tenants  of  Everton 
shall  be  distrained,  or  molested  in  their  lands  of 
goods,  for  the  same  rent  so  paid ;  and  to  that  end  this 
order  shall  be  enrolled  with  the  auditor  of  the  north 
parts." 

*  In  Seacome's  MS.,  and  in  Gregson's  Fragments,  this  is  1634;  but  I 
think  the  context  sanctions  the  date  I  have  given. 


INTRODUCTION.  27 

Sometime  in  the  year  1635,  the  tenants  of  Waver- 
tree,  and  of  Everton,  petitioned  the  king  to  be  admit- 
ted purchasers ;  and  that  in  the  mean  time  a  court 
may  be  kept  for  them,  as  formerly.  The  considera- 
tion of  which  petition  his  majesty  was  pleased  to  refer 
to  Lord  Cottington,  and  the  attorney-general,  with 
whom  the  said  tenants  or  their  agents  were  admitted 
to  treat ;  and  upon  the  terms  propounded,  had  liberty 
to  go  down  and  advise  with  the  rest  of  the  land 
tenants  thereabout.  In  the  mean  time,  and  whilst 
this  treaty  was  in  agitation,  to  prevent  the  conclusion 
thereof,  the  plaintiffs  (the  patentees),  by  their  coun- 
sel, moved  the  court  to  have  the  case  retained; 
whereupon,  on  the  20th  May,  1636,  the  court 
made  the  following  order : — "  That  the  plain- 
tiffs shall  reply  to  the  defendants'  answers  before  the 
end  of  Michaelmass  term  next,  and  the  cause  to  pro- 
ceed to  a  legal  hearing  in  this  court,  according  to 
the  ordinary  course ;  and  the  injunction  formerly 
granted,  to  stand  in  force." 

And  again,  on  the  8th  May,  1638,  it  was 
"  ordered,  that   the   cause   be    set  down  to  be 
heard  on  the  1th  of  June  next,  on  ten  days'  warning 
being  given  to  the  plaintiffs,  or  one  of  them.     But 
the  plaintiffs,  instead  of  coming  to  a  hearing,  pur- 
suant to  the  above  order,  made  purchase  of  the  said 
manors  of  Wavertree,  and  of  Everton;   and  King 
Charles  I.,  by  his  letters  patent,  dated  in  the 
'  14th  year  of  his  reign,  did  give  and  grant  to 
Ditchfield,  Highlord,  Clarke,  and  Mosse>  the  town 


28  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

or  towns  of  Wavertree,  and  of  Everton;  whereupon 
the  tenants  of  Wavertree,  and  of  Everton,  paid  their 
rents  to  the  said  purchasers,  &c.  It  must  be  kept  in 
remembrance,  however,  that  Everton  was  not  pur- 
chased as  part,  parcel,  or  member  of  the  manor  of 
West  Derby,  but  as  a  distinct  township  and  manor 
of  itself,  with  all  its  rights,  &c.  &c.  And  thus,  after 
much  trouble  and  expense,  the  point  became  esta- 
blished, that  Everton  is  a  manor  of  itself,  independent 
of  West  Derby,  and  other  neighbouring  manors. 

On  the  20th  June,  1639,  Ditchfield,  Highlord, 
Clarke,  and  Mosse,  for  certain  considerations  set 
forth, — "  did  grant,  bargain,  sell,  and  confirm  to 
James,  Lord  Stanley  and  Strange,  his  heirs,  &c.,  the 
manor  of  West  Derby,  and  the  town  or  towns  of 
Wavertree,  and  Everton,  to  have  and  to  hold  for 
ever." 

The  said  Lord  Stanley,  in  the  17th  Charles  I., 
anno  1642,  did,  some  time  in  the  month  of 
'  November  of  that  year,  appoint  a  court  baron 
to  be  kept  in  and  for  the  said  manors  and  towns,  (Sir 
Richard  Molyneux,  Bart.,  being  then  the  steward.) 
At  which  court  it  was  found,  that  Everton  paid  for 
their  enclosed  lands  <£5  11s.  3^d.  per  annum;  and 
for  their  commons,  by  the  names  of  Hangfield,  White- 
field,  and  Netherfield,  13s.  4d.  per  annum;  and  at 
every  king's  fifteen,  2s.*  for  the  said  commons.  The 
said  13s.  4d.  is  called  Breck  Silver,  and  is  entirely 
paid  for  their  commons  and  open  land  (being  part  of 

*  The  nature  of  this  tax  is  explained  in  the  Appendix. 


INTRODUCTION.  29 

the  Breck)  whereon  the  people  of  Kirkdale  were  per- 
mitted (whilst  the  land  lay  open  and  unenclosed)  to 
put  their  cattle,  paying  to  the  township  of  Everton 
6s.  8d.  per  annum,  for  such  privilege  and  advan- 
tages. 

In  the  18th  Charles  II.,  anno  1667,  Charles, 
'  Earl  of  Derby,  heir  to  the  said  Lord  Stanley," 
in  consequence  of  divers  debates  and  differences, 
touching  the  fines  due  to  the  said  earl  from  his  copy- 
hold tenants  of  Everton,  entered  into  an  agreement 
with  Robert  Carter  and  William  Halsall,  who  were 
deputed  by  the  copyholders  of  Everton  to  treat  for 
themselves  and  others,  about  a  composition  to  be  paid 
to  the  said  earl  in  consideration  of  settling  their  fines 
for  all  tunes  to  come.  In  this  agreement,  which  is 
dated  1st  January,  1667,  amongst  other  things,  it 
was  stipulated,  "That  the  said  copyholders  should 
pay  to  the  said  earl  twelve  years'  rent  of  their  ancient 
yearly  rents,  as  mentioned  in  a  schedule  thereto 
annexed,  and  should  permit  the  said  earl  to  enclose 
one-third  part  of  their  common  to  him  and  his  heirs 
for  ever ;  and  the  said  earl  agreed,  for  himself  and  his 
heirs,  to  settle  and  confirm  by  decree  of  chancery,  &c., 
their  copyhold  rents  certain  for  all  time  to  come ;  and 
that  they,  the  said  copyholders,  should  enjoy  the 
herbage  of  the  other  two-thirds  of  their  said  commons 
left  open  and  uninclosed,  to  them  and  their  heirs  for 
ever.  To  which  articles  many  of  the  copyholders 
agreed ;  and  afterwards,  other  articles  were  entered 
into,  including  the  residue  of  the  said  tenants :  but 


30  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

lest  it  should  be  thought  or  intended  by  any  of  said 
copyholders,  that  the  said  articles  did  include  all  the 
three  towns  as  one  manor,*  and  thereby  render  their 
ancient  rents  and  privileges  general  and  promiscuous, 
it  is  thereby  expressly  declared,  that  the  said  copy- 
holders do  for  themselves,  severally  and  respectively, 
(and  not  jointly  the  one  for  the  other,)  and  for  their 
several  and  respective  heirs,  fyc.,  covenant,  promise, 
grant,  and  agree  to  and  with  the  said  earl,  fyc. ;  and 
the  said  earl  doth  hereby  agree  and  covenant,  that 
his  trustee  or  trustees  shall  agree  with  and  grant  to 
the  said  copyholders,  parties  to  these  presents,  and 

*  Notwithstanding  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  Everton  were  thus  care- 
ful to  record  their  manorial  independence,  and  freedom  from  the  incor- 
porate rule  or  dominion  of  the  manor  of  West  Derby ;  and  notwithstand- 
ing this  agreement  of  and  with  the  said  Earl  of  Derby  clearly  allows, 
declares,  and  establishes  the  separate,  distinct,  and  individual  manorial 
rights  and  privileges  of  Everton;  yet,  according  to  modern  usage,  in 
the  halmote-court,  the  township  of  Everton  is  implicitly  denominated 
"  within  the  manor  of  West  Derby ;  " — as  may  be  seen  in  any  copy  of 
surrender  of  Everton  copyhold  lands,  all  which,  of  such  modern  sur- 
renders, are  headed  thus :— "  The  manor  of  West  Derby  (to  wit)  the 
halmote-court  of  Bamber  Gascoyne,  Esq.,  (now  of  the  Marquis  Salis- 
bury) lord  of  the  manor  of  West  Derby  aforesaid,  in  the  county  of  Lan- 
caster, held  at  West  Derby  aforesaid,  for  the  said  manor,  according  to 
the  custom  thereof,  &c."  And  in  the  bodies  of  such  surrenders  inva- 
riably will  be  found  the  following  passage ;  "  a  piece  or  parcel  of  land, 
being  in  Everton,  within  the  manor  of  West  Derby  aforesaid."  In  the 
ancient  deed  of  1 549,  as  given  in  the  Appendix,  it  is  stated,  that  the  sur- 
render there  alluded  to  had  been  "  granted  and  acknowledged  according 
to  the  custom  of  the  manor  of  West  Derby ;  but  it  does  not  state,  as 
modern  surrenders  do,  that  Everton  is  within  the  manor  of  West  Derby : 
but  the  point  may  be  reconciled,  and  perhaps  settled,  by  taking  the  fact 
thus; — that  Everton  is  a  manor  within  a  manor ;  that  Everton  is  one  of 
the  six  berewicks,  or  manors,  named  in  Doomsday-book,  in  a  passage, 
of  which  the  following  is  a  copy  or  abstract,  from  that  book, — "  In  the 
hundred  of  West  Derbie,  the  king,  Edward  the  Confessor,  had  one 
manor,  called  Derbie,  with  6  berewicks,  (manors  within  manors,)  &c." 


INTRODUCTION.  31 

their  heirs  respectively,  that  for  or  notwithstanding 
any  name  or  thing  herein  before  mentioned  and 
agreed  upon,  the  said  copyholders  respectively,  their 
heirs  and  assigns,  shall  have  the  same  liberty,  free- 
dom, and  privilege  in  the  said  two  parts  of  the  said 
waste  and  common,  remaining  to  their  respective 
copyholds,  as  they  held,  used,  and  enjoyed  before  the 
making  of  these  presents  on  the  whole  as  by  the  said 
articles,  and  the  said  Robert  Carter,  and  William 
Halsall,  bound  for  the  said  earl,  and  the  said  earl's 
receipt  for  the  money  paid,  may  more  at  large  appear." 
"  In  pursuance  of  which  said  articles,  and  agreeable 
to  the  true  sense  and  meaning  thereof,  the  said  earl, 
or  his  successor,  William,  Earl  of  Derby,  did  enclose 
and  lease  to  his  tenants  at  West  Derby,  one-third 
part  of  their  commons,*  and  to  Wavertree,  and  to 
Everton,  each  one-third  part  of  their  commons,  which 
said  enclosures  of  Everton  amounted  to  sixty  acres; 
and  there  remained  open,  or  unenclosed,  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres,  being  the  other  two-thirds  of  said 
commons,  as  by  the  survey  at  the  time  of  the  said 
enclosing  may  appear." 

All  of  a  seignor  or  lord's  rights  and  privileges,  in 
and  over  the  township  and  manor  of  Everton,  re- 
mained vested  in  the  successive  Earls  of  Derby,  from 
this  period  down  to  the  decease  of  William  George 
icnar(l?  Earl  of  Derby,  which  event  took  place 
'  in  the  year  1 702 :  the  said  earl  then  dying  with- 
out leaving  male  issue,  the  major  part  of  the  titles, 

*  MS.  of  Seacomc. 


32  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

dignities,  and  estates  of  which  he  was  possessed,  at 
the  time  of  his  decease,  became  vested  in  another 
branch  of  the  Stanley  family ;  hut  to  his  only  surviving 
child  and  heiress,  Henrietta  Maria,  Baroness  of  Ash- 
burnham,  descended  all  his  estates  and  honours  which 
were  not  under  those  unjust  and  arbitrary  restrictions 
of  the  law,  which  may  be  truly  denominated  salique. 

It  has  been  already  shewn  that  the  township  of 
Everton  contains,  as  near  as  may  be,  310  acres  of 
land.  Of  these,  130  acres  were  anciently  enclosed,  and 
60  acres  were  enclosed  about  the  year  1668,  leaving 
120  acres  in  common,  or  waste.  In  the  year 
*  1716,  the  trustees  of  Lady  Ashburnham  granted 
a  lease  for  1000  years  of  115  acres  (which  were  part 
of  the  last-named  120  acres)  of  common  land,  unto 
certain  individuals,  the  copyholders  of  Everton,  for 
the  consideration  of  £115  money  in  hand  paid  down 
by  the  said  copyholders ;  and  on  condition  of  the  said 
copyholders  continuing  annually  to  pay  the  sum  of 
£5  15s.,  being  one  shilling  per  acre  on  the  lands  so 
leased,  for  and  during  the  entire  term  and  continu- 
ance of  the  said  lease,  paying  as  well  also  13s.  4d. 
annually,  being  the  ancient  rent  or  Breck-silver  paid 
by  the  copyholders  for  said  commons;  and  it  may 
have  been  understood  that  this  13s.  4d.  should  con- 
tinue to  be  paid  for  the  five  acres  of  common  land 
not  included  in  the  lease  of  115  acres,  inasmuch  as 
there  were  originally  120  acres.  Thus  it  is  shewn, 
there  are  in  Everton  about  190  acres  of  freehold 
and  copyhold  lands;  115  acres  of  leasehold  lands; 


INTRODUCTION.  33 

and  some  5  acres  of  land  not  particularly  included 
under  any  head;  which  5  acres,  it  is  probable,  are  the 
mere  and  its  banks,  and  some  very  small  patches 
that  have  been  disposed  of  by  the  township  to  various 
individuals,  as  the  books  of  the  township  show,  and 
some  very  trivial  spots  or  patches  yet  remaining,  and 
which  are  called  "  land  belonging  to  the  township." 
This  total  of  310  acres  very  nearly  agrees  with  the 
measurement  of  the  township,  as  taken  in  the  year 
1 790  ;  as  may  be  seen  in  the  map  of  that  time. 

The  completion  of  the  lease,  in  1716,  of  the  said 
115  acres  of  land,  forms  a  conspicuous  feature  in  the 
history  of  Everton.  In  consequence  of  that  lease, 
nearly  all  the  remaining  waste  lands  of  the  township 
were  apportioned,  allotted  off,  enclosed,  and  much 
improved,  for  agricultural  and  other  purposes.  Be- 
fore, however,  the  division  or  allotment  of  the  lands 
of  the  said  lease  was  earned  fully  into  effect,  it  was 
discovered  that  some  of  the  lands  included  in  that 
lease  belonged  to,  or  were  in  the  township  of,  West 
Derby;  and  on  such  discovery,  various  debates  and 
disputes  arose,  and  sundry  meetings  took  place  to 
adjust  such  differences. 

Eventually,  a  final  settlement  of  the  disputed  points 
was  effected,  on  the  23d  June,  1 723 ;  the  particulars 
of  which  settlement,  and  many  other  interesting  docu- 
ments touching  the  1000  years'  lease,  the  apportion- 
ment and  allotment  of  the  several  parts  of  the  lands 
so  leased,  and  other  matter  thereto  belonging,  will  be 
found  in  the  Appendix. 

D 


34  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

The  settlement  effected  in  1723,  seems  to  have 
set  at  rest  all  differences  and  disputes  between  Everton 
and  West  Derhy ;  and  ever  since  that  period,  the 
manorial  affairs  of  those  respective  townships  or 
manors  appear  to  have  been  amicably  transacted  at 
one  and  the  same  place,  when  needful,  that  is,  in  the 
lord  of  the  manor's  court,  at  West  Derby,  agreeable 
to  certain  forms,  customs,  &c.,  as  will  be  shewn  in  a 
forthcoming  section. 

It  would  appear  that  the  manorial  rights,  privileges, 

&c.,  in  and  over  the  township  or  manor  of  Everton, 

remained  vested  in  the  heirs  of  the  Derby  family 

'  until,  in  the  year  1717,  Isaac  Greene,  Esquire, 

a  respectable  solicitor  of  Liverpool,  purchased  those 

rights,   privileges,    and   emoluments,   together   with 

those  of  the  manors  of  West  Derby,  and  Wavertree. 

Mr.  Greene  was  also  proprietor,  or  lord,  of  other 
manors,  some  of  winch  were  acquired  by  purchase, 
and  others  were  the  heritage  of  his  wife,  Mary  Aspin- 
wall,  the  heiress  of  Sir  Gilbert  Ireland. 

^n  ^ie  (^ea^1  °f  Mr.  Greene  (which  took 
'place  the  5th  July,  1749,)  his  possessions  be- 
came the  property  of  his  daughters  and  co-heiresses, 
Mrs.  Blackburn,  of  Hale,  and  Mrs.  Gaseoyne,  of 
Child  wall;  by  whom  and  their  heirs  the  manorial 
rights  of  all  the  late  Mr  Greene's  manors  were  and 
still  are  exercised,  and  the  copyhold  courts  continue, 
under  them,  to  be  duly  held,  with  all  the  formalities 
of  that  system. 

Everton  became  the  property  of  Mary,  the  daughter 


INTRODUCTION.  35 

of  the  late  Isaac  Greene,  Esquire,  who  married  Bam- 
ber  Gascoyne,  of  Barking,  in  Essex,  Esquire,  and 
M.  P.,  by  whom  she  had  two  sons ;  to  the  eldest  of 
whom,  the  late  Bamber  Gascoyne,  of  Childwall, 
Esquire,  (who  for  many  years  was  M.P.  for  Liverpool,) 
the  manors  of  West  Derby,  Everton,  and  Wavertree 
descended;  the  younger  of  those  sons  is  the  very 
worthy  General  Isaac  Gascoyne,  the  present  M.  P. 
for  Liverpool. 
i  7QQ  ^e  e^er  Bamber  Gascoyne,  Esquire,  died 

'  8th  May,  1799;  and  the  younger,  or  late,  Bam- 
ber Gascoyne,  Esquire,  died  16th  January,  1824; 
the  wife  of  the  latter  died  llth  July,  1820. 

On  the  death  of  the  late  Bamber  Gascoyne, 

'  Esquire,  the  manors  of  West  Derby,  Everton, 
&c.,  devolved  to  his  daughter,  and  only  surviving 
child,  who  married  the  Marquis  of  Salisbury;  and  the 
manorial  rights,  &c.,  of  Everton  have,  in  consequence 
of  the  marriage,  become  vested  in  that  noble  family. 

Having  brought  the  history  of  the  seignorage  and 
soil  of  the  township  or  manor  of  Everton  through 
times  of  peril  as  well  as  of  peace ;  from  rude,  remote, 
and  tyrannical  times,  to  these  days  of  happy  tran- 
quillity, and  of  real,  permanent,  and  substantial  secu- 
rity ;  it  is  hoped  it  will  not  be  deemed  an  unpardon- 
able step,  to  introduce  a  slight  digression;  prefacing 
such  digression  with  a  fervent  congratulation  to  the 
present  inhabitants  of  Everton,  that  civilization  and 
widely-diffused  knowledge  have  created  for  them  this 
era  of  happiness,  security,  and  content ! 


36  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

It  is  more  than  probable  that,  in  days  of  yore,  many 
a  warlike  phalanx  has  been  seen  from  Everton,  to 
wend  its  hostile  way  to  conflicts  which  have  carried 
slaughter,  devastation,  and  even  desolation  into  neigh- 
bouring lands  and  habitations ;  and  from  the  humble 
dwellings  of  the  people  of  Everton,  of  ancient  days, 
in  all  likelihood,  have  the  youthful  male  inmates  been 
marched  to  death  or  mutilation ;  for  vassalage  was  the 
lot  of  all  who,  in  remote  ages,  called  this  township 
their  home.  At  their  lord's  bidding,  all  able-bodied 
vassals  were  necessitated  to  march  wherever  war's 
horrid  operations  or  ambition's  purposes  called  them ; 
change  of  masters  came  with  change  of  years ;  but 
it  amounts  almost  to  a  certainty,  that  submission  and 
misery  were,  for  centuries  on  centuries,  under  all 
changes  of  times,  of  rulers,  and  of  lords,  the  continued 
doom  of  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  Everton,  whether 
as  Brigantes,  Anglo-Romans,  Anglo-Saxons,  Anglo- 
Danes,  or  Anglo-Normans.  Hard  and  bitter  was 
their  lot;  but  fervent  thanks  are  due  to  an  all- wise 
and  kind  Providence,  for  the  civilization  and  wide- 
spreading  knowledge  of  the  present  day,  which  con- 
stitute our  moral,  social,  and  political  shields,  by 
which  we  are  defended  from  aggression  and  oppres- 
sion. How  long  it  may  please  the  Ruler  of  events 
to  suffer  us  to  remain  in  this  happy,  secure,  and 
enviable  state,  is  wisely  sealed  up  in  the  book  of  futu- 
rity. In  recent,  as  well  as  remote  times,  how  many 
untoward  circumstances  have  we  not,  as  a  nation, 
valiantly  overcome,  and  how  fortunate  have  been  the 


INTRODUCTION.  37 

results  of  endeavours,  the  probability  of  the  success  of 
which  was  fearfully  against  us.  The  career  of  that 
child  of  ambition  has  but  lately  closed,  who  was  the 
dread  and  the  scourge  of  Europe,  and  who  extended 
his  eagle  eye  to  the  subjugation  of  the  world,  but 
fixed  it  most  intently  and  eagerly  on  the  conquest  of 
our  matchless  island.  At  the  commencement  of  the 
present  century,  vehicles  were  seen  parading  the 
township  of  Everton,  prepared  to  convey  the  females, 
the  helpless,  the  aged,  and  the  young,  of  these  parts, 
to  shelter  and  safety  in  the  interior  of  the  kingdom,  if 
necessary,  on  the  threatened  invasion  of  Bonaparte. 
Let  us  for  a  moment  suppose  that  those  designs  of  the 
ruler  of  France  had  been  earned  into  execution,  and 
to  successful  completion,  might  not  then  the  injustice, 
cruelties,  and  oppressions  of  the  Norman  William 
have  been  again  enacted,  and  have  constituted  our 
misery  at  the  present  day  ? 

It  boots  not  now  to  argue  on  present  safety,  or  on  the 
machinations  of  that  individual,  who  at  one  time  was 
mighty  both  in  fame  and  power ;  but  to  whom  do  we 
owe  thanks  for  the  possession  of  the  one,  and  deliver- 
ance from  the  other?  to  whom  is  the  praise  due? 
Truly  to  those  who,  under  the  Almighty's  permission, 
stood  firmly  at  their  posts ;  who,  although  harassed  by 
a  murmuring  multitude  at  home,  and  deserted  by 
foreign  powers,  resolutely  employed  the  nation's  ener- 
gies, and  effected,  not  only  a  full  and  complete  de- 
fence, but  the  utter  discomfiture  and  downfall  of  that 
being,  who,  though  now  inanimate  and  harmless,  often 


38  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

struck  awe  and  terror  into  the  rulers  of  many  mighty 
nations,  populous  and  proud  as  our  own  Britain ;  and 
freed  the  world  from  his  tyranny,  and  gave  peace  to 
Europe.  But  Providence  has  now  heen  pleased  to 
seat  us,  apparently  at  least,  permanently  on  the  rock 
of  safety ;  and  on  Everton,  in  particular,  it  has  long 
been  bestowing  much  influx  of  population,  and  great 
encrease  of  value.  There  are  no  Tosti's  now ;  our 
suits  and  services  to  the  lords  of  our  manor  are 
scarcely  more  than  nominal,  little  other  than  mere 
matters  of  form;  so  trifling  indeed,  that  they  are 
annually  bought  off"  for  the  value  of  that  humble  coin 
of  the  realm — a  groat :  nay,  many  extensive  portions 
of  land  in  Everton  are  now  in  free-holding,  liberated 
altogether  from  even  a  liability  to  feudal  customs, 
and  in  no  respect  under  the  control  of  any  lord,  but 
that  individual  who,  by  purchase,  or  other  legal  mode, 
has  become  the  proprietor  in  fee  and  perpetuity. 


SECTION  II. 


ETYMOLOGY. 


A  SECTION  on  the  etymology  of  the  name  of  a  place 
under  consideration  is  generally  deemed  indispensably 
necessary,  as  well  in  an  humhle  local  historical  trea- 
tise, as  in  the  histories  of  proud  empires.  But  it  may 
be  said  there  are  few  sciences,  or  employments,  more 
abstruse,  or  more  involved  in  ambiguity  and  obscurity, 
than  that  of  etymology,  or  the  art  of  deriving  the  origin 
of  names — names  that  are  in  themselves  often  nothing 
other  than  altered  and  changed  obselete  terms,  and 
very  frequently  meliorated,  both  in  pronunciation  and 
orthography,  so  as  to  chime  in,  and  accord  with,  the 
amended  idioms  of  enlightened  times,  or,  in  other 
words,  to  suit  the  current  language  of  improving  ages. 
It  will  scarcely  be  denied  that  often,  after  a  tedious 
etymological  research,  and  a  conclusion  has  been 
arrived  at, — however  veracious  such  conclusion  may 
appear  to  be, — the  reward  of  the  discovery  has  seldom 
equalled  the  value  of  the  time  expended  on  the  en- 
quiry. The  study  or  science  of  etymology  has  not  a 
truer  type  than  the  game  of  blind-man-buff;  for  in 
such  study  we  stroll,  hoodwinked,  through  the  laby- 


40  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

rinthian  chambers  of  antiquity,  eagerly  catching  at 
the  data  we  chance  to  stumble  upon,  yet  seldom 
giving  the  right  appellation  or  construction  to  the 
matter  occasionally  obtained ;  we  are,  therefore,  both 
by  the  rules  of  blind-man-buff,  and  those  of  etymo- 
logy, again  obliged  to  resume  our  efforts,  and  recom- 
mence our  search.  Nor  would  it  be  a  less  appropriate 
name,  were  we  to  style  etymology,  guessology;  for  it  is 
a  system,  science,  or  pursuit  bound  and  kept  together 
by  a  chain  of  conjectures,  and  a  series  of  guesses. 

But  to  pass  by  etymological  enquiry  altogether 
would  be  to  sin  against  the  rules  of  history ;  slender, 
therefore,  as  the  data  are,  touching  the  etymology  of 
the  name  of  Everton,  and  however  imperfect  the 
mode  of  its  presentation,  it  must  be  advanced  and 
submitted  to  the  reader's  notice.  It  has  often  been 
declared,  and  with  much  shew  of  truth,  that  the  broad 
pronunciation  of  country  people  is  nearest  to  the 
ancient  Saxon  phraseology  used  in  England;  the 
true  sound,  and  the  original  meaning,  of  the  names  of 
places,  are  therefore  more  likely  to  be  gathered  from 
the  lips  of  the  unlearned,  than  from  any  writings  of 
old  date ;  as  may  be  briefly  proved  by  stating  a  case 
thus  : — Let  an  educated  person  visit  a  tribe  in  Africa, 
and  take  down  their  words  in  writing,  as  the  sound  in 
utterance  dictates  ;  those  who  read  aloud  such  written 
words  seldom,  if  ever,  give  to  them  their  true  pronun- 
ciation. Thus  has  it  been  with  our  rude,  unlettered 
ancestors;  their  names  of  places  have  been  written 
down  by  learned  clerks,  and  people  of  following  ages 


ETYMOLOGY.  41 

have  given  to  such  names,  in  many  cases,  a  false  pro- 
nunciation, which  has  led  to  altered  orthography. 

From  the  frequent  use  made  of  the  word  "  Yerton," 
by  the  inhabitants  of  Everton  and  its  vicinage,  in 
times  not  remote,  and  even  still  by  very  aged  per- 
sons, when  speaking  of  and  meaning  Everton,  it 
would  almost  appear  that  the  true  and  original  name 
of  the  township  had  been  Yerton;  but  it  is  acknow- 
ledged that  the  word  Yerton  may  be  a  corruption  of,  or 
derivation  from,  the  word  Hiretun  (higher-town),  or 
Ouretou  (over- town),  and  indeed  have  the  same 
meaning,  for  to  both  or  either  of  these  words  the  pro- 
nunciation of  Yerton  is  nearly  allied.  But  to  wade 
deeply  into  an  etymological  enquiry  on  the  word  Yerton 
would  be  as  profitless  as  tedious;  it  will  be  better, 
then,  at  once  to  take  that  word  as  synonymous  with, 
or  a  derivation  from,  the  word  Hiretun.  In  the  Dooms- 
day Book,  the  township  is  styled  Hiretun ;  a  name 
given  to  it,  there  is  reason  to  presume,  from  the  cir- 
cumstance of  its  having  been  formerly  (as  now)  the 
higher  of  one  or  more  towns,  in  its  own  immediate 
vicinage :  and  to  this  conclusion  every  mind  would, 
at  once,  be  satisfactorily  brought,  if  any  evidence 
were  adduced  that,  at  the  time  Everton  was  named 
Hirefan,  there  were  in  reality  one  or  more  towns  in 
its  immediate  neighbourhood,  built  or  standing  on  a 
lower  site  than  the  town,  or  township,*  of  Everton 
itself.  It  would  not  be  very  difficult  to  establish  the 

*  Of  townships,  Ererton  is,  and  ever  has  been,  the  highest  on  the  east, 
west,  and  north  of  those  which  are  in  its  immediate  vicinage. 


42  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

assumption  of  the  former  existence  of  such  lower 
town  or  towns ;  one,  for  instance,  may  have  possibly 
existed  in  Kirkdale,  and  another,  probably,  on  or 
very  near  the  site  of  the  present  town  of  Liverpool ; 
for  we  find  that  all  ancient  localities,  the  names  of 
which  terminate  in  "  tun "  or  "  tune,"  have  been 
towns.  Why  not,  then,  let  fancy  proceed  a  step, 
and  say,  that  "  dune  "  also  signifies  a  town, — that 
"Esmedune"  may  have  been  Esme-foww, — and  that 
modern  Liverpool  stands  on  the  site  of  old  Esmedune.* 
If  either  or  both  of  these  assumed  towns  existed,  they 
were  situated  below  Everton.  From  such  a  circum- 
stance the  name  of  Hiretun  (higher-town)  must  have 
had  its  origin,  and  the  still  familiar  word  Yerton,  is 
doubtless  a  corruption  of  it. 

To  account  for  the  more  polished,  yet  neither  more 
significant  nor  more  appropriate  name,  which  the 
township  now  bears,  we  may,  with  a  further  trifling 
flight  of  fancy,  suppose  the  alteration  of  Hiretun,  or 
Yerton,  to  Ever-toii,  to  have  been  made  by  some 
ancient  learned  clerk,  who,  instigated  by  fancied 
wisdom,  or  by  whim,  thought  to  amend  the  language 
of  his  times.  Such  an  one  may  have  deemed  Yerton 
a  vulgar  name,  and,  with  more  of  rhyme  than  reason, 
he  may  have  created  for  the  township  its  present 
appellation.  There  is,  however,  no  information  ex- 


*  It  belongs  to  the  history  of  Liverpool  to  treat  more  at  large  on  this 
point ;  but  it  would  appear  there  are  good  grounds  to  establish  the 
opinion  that  the  sites  of  Liverpool  and  the  once-existing  Esmedune  are 
one  and  the  same. 


ETYMOLOGY.  43 

tant  to  prove  how  or  when  originated  the  name  which 
Everton  now  bears. 

The  township  bore  the  name  of  Hiretun  at  the  close 
of  the  rule  of  the  Anglo-Saxons,  as  that  ancient  and 
celebrated  territorial  register,  the  Doomsday  Book, 
clearly  shews ;  but  let  us,  for  a  moment,  suppose  that 
ever  is  a  corrupt  pronunciation  of  hire,  there  has  been 
bad  taste  displayed,  and  sin  committed  on  sense,  in 
giving  such  an  incongruous  title  to  the  township ;  a 
title  indelibly  stamped  on  its  records.  In  fine,  cus- 
tom has  now  irrevocably  established  "Everton,"  to 
be  the  township's  name. 

Let  us,  however,  for  another  moment,  suppose  hire 
to  mean  ever, — such  cannot  have  been  what  is  termed 
an  etymon ;  for  though,  as  in  the  present  case,  it  may 
imply  the  township's  existence  in  and  from  remote 
antiquity,  yet  reason  instructs  us  that  custom  only 
has  established  its  present  name  of  Ever  j  and  that, 
even  if  the  word  hire  means  ever,  it  is  dfe-use  that  has 
buried  the  original  name  of  the  township  in  oblivion. 
But  it  is  most  reasonable  to  conclude,  that  all  etymo- 
logical enquiries  touching  the  word  Everton,  must 
result  in  the  decision  of  its  being  a  corruption  of  the 
word  Hiretun  ;  and  so  far  as  reason  and  analogy  can 
guide,  it  may  be  permitted  us  to  believe,  and  even 
to  be  convinced,  that  the  ancient  (and  oldest  known) 
name  of  the  township,  Hireton,  was  given  to  the  place 
in  consequence  of  the  circumstance  of  its  being  the 
higher  of  one  or  more  towns  near  unto  itself. 

There  are  some  who  maintain  that  the  word  ever  has 


44  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

been  derived  from  heifer,  in  consequence  of  Everton 
having  possessed  commons,  in  which  many  heifers 
depastured.  Others,  again,  would  derive  the  word 
ever  from  heather,  or  according  to  broader,  or  Scotch 
pronunciation,  hether.  These  latter  build  their  hypo- 
thesis on  the  once  existing  superabundance  of  heath 
which  spread  itself  over  the  commons  or  wastes  of  the 
township.  These  two  last-named  points  are  merely 
introduced  to  shew  on  what  slender  data  an  etymo- 
logist can  build.  There  are  those  now  living  who 
perfectly  recollect  Everton-hill  being  dubbed,  by  the 
common  people,  with  the  sobriquet,  Dunnock-brotv; 
a  name  given  to  it,  without  doubt,  in  consequence  of 
the  brown  or  dun  appearance  of  the  place,  when,  in 
days  of  yore,  nothing  but  scanty  crops  of  herbage 
covered  its  commons.  Luckily,  however,  the  township 
has  escaped  from  the  confirmation,  by  custom  and 
long  usage,  of  such  a  vulgar  name ;  and  yet,  num- 
berless towns  owe  their  established  cognomens  to 
circumstances  as  slight  as  did  Everton  its  nick-name 
of  dunnock,  or  dun-looking  broAv. 

After  all,  this  section  on  etymology  strongly  re- 
sembles Matthews'  story  of  the  old  Scotch  woman; 
in  which  much  is  said  about  nothing.  Here  then  let 
the  matter  rest ;  let  us  be  content  to  know  that  the 
township  has  a  name,  a  good  name,  and  an  old  one ; 
but,  "what  is" there  in  a  name ?"  Everton  would  be 
(as  is  said  of  the  rose)  as  lovely  to  look  on,  as  sweet, 
and  as  salubrious  as  it  now  is,  even  though  it  had 
any  other  name. 


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SECTION  III. 


ANTIQUITIES. 


THERE  are  no  architectural  erections  of  high  anti- 
quity now  remaining  in  Everton.  The  cottage, 
styled  "Prince  Rupert's  head-quarters,"  stands  the 
first  on  the  list  of  Everton' s  remaining  ancient  edifices, 
and,  having  heen  the  residence  of  that  prince,  is 
stamped  with  some  celebrity. 

This  cottage  possessed  many  advantages,  as  the 
residence  of  a  leader  of  forces  attacking  Liverpool. 
At  the  period  of  its  siege  by  Prince  Rupert,  in  the 
year  1644,  it  was  not  altogether  a  despicable  place 
for  even  a  general  officer  to  reside  in ;  an  assertion, 
that  will  have  less  chance  of  being  disputed,  when  it 
is  brought  to  mind  that,  in  the  early  parts  of  the 
seventeenth  century,  the  dwellings  of  the  greatest  in 
the  land  were  lamentably  deficient  in  those  elegancies, 
accommodations,  and  luxuries  which  are  now  so 
general,  and  even  common.  As  a  soldier,  there  is 
little  doubt,  the  prince  found  this  cottage  a  far  more 
comfortable,  and  in  every  respect  preferable,  place  of 
temporary  residence,  than  would  have  been  a  frail, 
thin  tent ;  there  is,  therefore,  reason  to  suppose  that 


48  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

he  did  not  repine  at  the  scanty  accommodation  it 
afforded.  Leaders  of  legions,  in  these  days,  would 
not,  perhaps,  be  contented  with  even  a  much  better 
temporary  domicile ;  but  matters  are  not  now  as  they 
were  heretofore. 

Rupert's  Cottage  stands  on  the  crest  of  Everton- 
hill,  at  the  south  east  angle,  or  upper  extremity  of  the 
south  side,  of  a  road  or  street  called  Everton  Brow ; 
the  cottage  however  fronts  to  a  road  or  street  called 
the  Village.  It  is  in  the  S.  W.  district,  and  may  be 
found  on  the  map  annexed  to  this  volume,  in  that 
division  of  property,  or  locality,  which  is  marked  and 
distinguished  there  by  the  figure  1,  and  letter  m. 

There  is  nothing  remarkable  in  the  structure  of 
this  cottage,  its  workmanship  and  materials  being  of 
the  rudest  classes ;  it  is  a  long,  low,  single-stoned, 
rectangular-shaped  edifice,  about  five  yards  in  width 
at  the  east  end,  and  some  half-a-yard  wider  at  the 
west  end ;  its  extreme  length  is  about  20  yards ;  the 
whole  of  its  exterior  is  composed  of  rude  unchiselled 
stone,  and  shilly,*  cemented  together  with  lime-mor- 
tar generally,  but  in  some  parts  with  clay ;  the  whole 
is  washed  over  with  white-lime ;  the  roof  is  of  thatch; 
the  rafters  which  support  the  roof  are  of  oak,  bare 
and  black  with  age ;  clay  has  been  daubed  over  the 
inner  walls  instead  of  plaster,  and,  although  the  pre- 
sent occupiers  are  cleanly  people,  the  materials  of 

*  Shilly  is  small  rubble  and  flaky  parts  of  stone,  such  as  is  generally 
cast  aside,  when  large  compact  masses  of  stone  are  sought  for,  from 
quarries. 


ANTIQUITIES.  49 

which  the  cottage  is  constructed  scarcely  admit  of 
any  approaches  being  made  within  it  towards  neat- 
ness ;  the  floors  are  of  clay,  partially  tiled ;  cellaring 
there  is  none ;  nor  is  there  an  excavation  of  any  kind 
into  its  site,  or  foundation,  as  it  is  solid  rock. 

At  no  remote  period,  the  exterior  rock,  which  once 
lay  at  the  north  side  of  the  cottage,  has  been  cut 
down  and  removed,  to  depress  the  space  it  occupied 
to  the  level  of  the  road,  which  causes  the  building  to 
be  elevated,  or  perched  on  a  rock,  some  few  feet 
higher  than  the  street;  but  out  of  the  rock  rude 
steps  have  been  roughly  hewed,  by  which  its  two 
northern  doors  are  approached. 

There  was  formerly  a  small  closet  projecting  towards 
the  road,  about  mid-way  on  the  north  front  of  this 
cottage ;  it  was  taken  down  some  twenty  years  ago ; 
the  long  chimney  has  also  been  much  reduced  in 
length.  On  the  east,  the  cottage  abuts  on  a  barn  of 
reddish- coloured  free-stone,  which  is  of  tolerable  anti- 
quity, though  not,  perhaps,  of  a  date  quite  so  ancient 
as  the  cottage  itself. 

The  interior  of  the  cottage  consists  of  four  apart- 
ments, which  serve  for  the  domicile  of  two  families. 
From  the  window  of  the  west  gable  a  beautiful  pros- 
pect is  obtained,  quite  exhilarating  to  the  tenant,  a 
tailor,  who  has  fixed  his  work-board  under  it,  from 
whence  he  can  feast  his  eye  whenever  he  is  dis- 
posed. 

The  next,  in  rank,  of  Everton's  remaining  antiqui- 

E 


50  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

ties,  is  a  cottage  in  tlie  village,  on  a  site  which  is 
distinguished  in  the  map  by  the  figures  55,  and  the 
letter  a.  This  cottage  belongs  to,  and  was,  until  a 
few  years  ago,  long  the  residence  of,  a  family  named 
Anderton.  In  respectability  of  appearance  it  is  supe- 
rior to,  and  most  likely,  in  point  of  antiquity,  nearly, 
if  not  quite,  on  a  par  with,  its  more  favoured  neigh- 
bour, the  temporary  palace  of  a  scion  of  our  royal  race. 

The  exterior  of  Auderton's  cottage  is  a  compound 
of  stone,  clay,  and  solid  timber ;  the  timber  is  dove- 
tailed together,  in  many  places,  forming  a  frame-work, 
the  cavities  or  interstices  of  which  are  filled  up  with 
clay,  or  lime-mortar.  This  mode  of  building  was 
very  generally  practised  in  Lancashire  a  century  or 
two  ago.  The  timber  used  in  the  construction  of  this 
building  is  good  English  oak,  ponderous,  and  still 
sound  and  strong,  and  calculated  to  vie  in  endurance 
with  the  stone,  of  which  many  other  parts  of  the  cot- 
tage are  constructed  -,  the  roof  is  tiled  now,  but  was 
formerly  thatched.  Of  the  interior  of  this  cottage 
nothing  is  required  to  be  stated ;  its  inmates  are  hum- 
ble, and  their  domestic  economy  the  reverse  of  elegant. 
There  are  many  who  would  not  consider  time  altoge- 
ther mispent,  whilst  employed  in  reading  descriptions 
of  splendid  apartments  and  gaudy  canopies;  but  few 
indeed  are  they  who  would  cast  a  moment  away  in 
perusing  a  dissertation  on  a  tailor's  or  shoemaker's 
internal  domestic  economy. 

Adjoining  Anderton's  cottage,    stands   a   pile   of 


ANTIQUITIES.  51 

buildings,  formerly  the  property  and  residence  of  a 
family  of  Everton  nobles,  named  Rice  -,  of  whom  more 
hereafter.  It  is  now  about  twenty  years  since  the 
external  and  internal  parts  of  this  residence  were 
much  improved  and  modernized;  the  good  taste  of 
the  lady  who  was  for  some  years  its  tenant  was  judi- 
ciously displayed  in  the  direction  of  the  improvements 
and  alterations,  by  which  a  farmer's  homely  domestic 
establishment  was  converted  into  an  elegant  domicile ; 
and  although,  at  this  time,  a  little  of  the  exterior 
polish  is  worn  away,  the  owner  of  the  place,  Mrs. 
Tatlock,  finds  it  a  charming  abode. 

With  the  road  intervening,  but  nearly  opposite  to 
the  last  noticed  dwelling,  in  the  S.  E.,  stands  another 
cottage,  on  a  lot  marked  22,  f,  on  the  map ;  this  still 
humble  villa  has  latterly  been  trimmed  up  into  a 
spruce  place  of  residence,  and,  compared  with  its 
ancient  cottage  neighbours,  makes  quite  a  superior 
and  modern  appearance.  The  metamorphosis  in  the 
appearance  of  this  place  has  been  recently  effected ; 
for,  a  few  years  ago,  it  had  a  rude  and  ragged  resem- 
blance to  those  old,  ruinous,  and  ill-kept  residences, 
or  homesteads,  where  indolent  agriculturalists  reside. 
This  building  was  erected  the  same  year  (1644)  in 
which  Prince  Rupert  besieged  the  town  of  Liver- 
pool. 

Another  cottage,  two  stories  in  height,  constructed 
of  red  stone,  in  the  year  1688,  is  also  standing  in 
Everton  village,  on  the  south-east  part  of  the  lot 


52  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

marked  19,  a;  it  was  built  by  some  branch  of  tlie 
Heyes'  family,  and  was  probably  once  their  place  of 
residence ;  of  whom  also  more  will  be  hereafter  stated. 
Fifty  years  ago,  there  dwelt  at  this  cottage  a  worthy 
matron,  to  whose  care,  kindness,  and  skill,  many 
individuals,  now  happy,  healthy,  and  prosperous 
denizens  of  Liverpool,  and  other  places,  are  in- 
debted, under  the  Almighty's  favour,  for  the  lease 
of  life  which  they  now  enjoy.  Many  a  puny,  puling, 
sickly  child  was  entrusted  to  her  well-known  capa- 
bility as  a  foster-mother,  who,  with  kindness,  attention, 
and  fidelity,  constantly  performed  every  duty  of  her 
trust.  Worthy  creature !  worth  such  as  thine  must 
be  a  passport  to  celestial  joys,  and  thy  soul  is  now 
enjoying  peace  and  bliss  in  heaven ;  whilst  on  earth, 
so  long  as  these  humble  annals  endure,  thy  name, 
deserving  Mary  Mercer,  shall  stand  recorded. 

Extending  in  a  line  of  some  50  yards,  east  and 
west,  there  is  a  pile  of  buildings  on  the  north  side  of 
the  path  over  the  precipitous  road,  at  the  upper  part 
of  Everton  Brow.  These  buildings  are  about  fifty 
paces  distant  north  of  the  Bridewell,  or  Round-jug  of 
Everton;  most  of  them  were  erected  in  and  about  the 
year  1692,  and  are  in  a  tolerable  state  of  preservation, 
but  present  no  feature  worthy  of  remark,  beyond  the 
brief  notice  of  their  being  a  set  of  larger  kind  of  cot- 
tages, two  stories  high,  and  tolerably  roomy  ^within ; 
the  spot  where  these  buildings  stand  is  marked  62,  a, 
on  the  map.  The  westernmost  of  these  domiciles  has 


ANTIQUITIES.  53 

long  been  Mrs.  Cooper's  manufactory  for  that  luscious 
compound  of  sweets,  whose  excellence  is  celebrated 
far  and  near,  under  the  name  of  Everton  toffee.  At 
the  east  part  of  this  pile  of  buildings  is  a  butcher's 
shop,  where  considerable  business  is  done;  and  was 
for  many  years  past,  until  lately,  the  only  shambles 
in  the  township. 

There  is  another  dwelling  now  standing  in  the 
township,  near  the  village,  on  the  lot  marked  1,  o,  oil 
the  map ;  the  exact  time  of  its  erection  is  not  known. 
Such  is  also  the  case  with  the  remains  of  another 
ancient  dAvelling,  forming  a  sort  of  abutment  to,  or 
dub-down  from,  the  house  erected  by  the  late  Doctor 
Gleave,  on  the  lot  marked  42,  d,  in  Everton-lane. 
Both  these  places,  as  well  as  another  ancient  dwelling 
which  stood,  not  long  ago,  on  the  St.  Domingo  land, 
on  the  lot  marked  2,  i,  were  built  prior  to  the  year 
1700;  as  was  also  the  old  part  of  the  Odd-house, 
which  stands  on  locality  21,  d.  To  the  last-named 
house,  some  additions  and  improvements  have  been 
lately  made.  Of  ancient  architectural  erections,  those 
already  noticed  are  all  which  now  remain  in  Everton 
of  the  dwellings  constructed  in  the  township  during 
and  prior  to  the  seventeenth  century. 

These  are  certainly  humble  edifices,  and  this  brief 
account  of  them,  to  some  persons,  may  appear 
superfluous;  but  however  insignificant  such  places 
may  be  in  this  age  of  splendour,  yet  they  were,  in 
their  day,  the  residences  of  the  chief  and  most  sub- 


54  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

stautial  families  of  the  township,  and  at  the  time  in 
which  they  were  constructed,  there  were  few,  if  any, 
extensive  buildings  in  their  vicinage.  To  know  that 
these  lowly  dwellings  were  once  the  abodes  of  worthy, 
substantial,  and  respectable  persons,  is  sufficient  to 
entitle  them  to  a  notice  here ;  if  the  persons  who  occu- 
pied them  were  not  deeply  versed  in  the  Belle  Lettres, 
or  members  of  the  Beau-monde,  yet  as  honest,  pains- 
taking, pious,  and  moral  people,  who,  in  their  days, 
earned  respect,  they  are  now,  as  they  will  be  in  after- 
time,  worthy  of  recollection  and  notice. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  style  in  which  do- 
mestic residences  were  built  at  Everton  in  early  days, 
it  is  pretty  evident,  from  the  specimens  already  given, 
that  the  dwellings,  even  of  the  nobles  of  the  township, 
were  insignificant  in  size,  and  incommodiously  con- 
structed. Soon  after  the  commencement  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  however,  the  houses  of  Everton  as- 
sumed a  respectable  appearance ;  they  were  of  larger 
dimensions,  and  more  commodiously  planned,  being 
generally  two,  and  occasionally  three,  stories  high; 
yet  even  at  that  time,  the  apartments  of  these  dwel- 
lings were  low,  unseemly  to  the  sight,  and  detri- 
mental to  health ;  but  great  improvement  was  made 
in  the  exterior  appearances.  In  fine,  although  they 
were  not  what  a  more  refined  taste  would  have  made 
them,  yet  they  were  spacious,  and  sufficiently  conve- 
nient to  content  the  wealthiest  individuals  of  the  town- 
ship, and  many  of  the  opulent  of  Liverpool,  who 


ANTIQUITIES.  55 

frequently  flocked  there  to  reside.  But  it  was  re- 
served for  our  times  to  polish  and  embellish  this 
beautiful  township,  by  giving  to  its  architectural  erec- 
tions their  highest  finish,  and  by  tastefully  forming 
delightful  gardens  and  pleasure  grounds.  Everton  is 
now  studded  over  with  elegant  mansions,  chiefly  the 
residence  of  persons,  who,  although  opulent,  still  take 
pleasure  in  trade's  transactions,  or  deem  it  a  duty 
they  owe  their  families,  to  continue  their  daily  toil  in 
the  commercial  operations  of  Liverpool,  that  they  may 
increase  their  store ;  profiting,  at  the  same  time,  by 
wholesome  walks  to  and  from  that  busy  town,  inhaling 
during  their  meal-hours  the  pure  and  salubrious  air 
of  Everton ;  where  they  also  pass  their  peaceful  and 
happy  evenings  and  nights,  removed  from  the  town's 
murky,  noxious  exhalations,  and  from  trade's  arduous 
exertions  and  incessant  hum. 

It  remains  now  to  take  notice  of  such  architectural 
erections  as  were  standing  in  Everton  within  the 
recollection  of  the  oldest  persons  now  living.  The 
first  and  chief  in  consideration  was,  unquestionably, 
the  one  always  known,  and  still  remembered,  by  the 
name  of 


56  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 


THE  BEACON. 


This  miniature  architectural  specimen  was  the  only 
memento  of  the  days  of  auld  lang  syne,  and,  indeed, 
almost  the  only  ancient  public  edifice  that  tradition 
can  vouch  to  have  ever  existed  at  Everton :  it  is  to  be 
hoped,  therefore,  that  a  somewhat  elaborate  account 
of  the  building  itself,  and  of  matter  connected  with  it, 
will  not  only  be  deemed  pardonable,  but  acceptable. 

The  ancient  beacon  of  Everton  stood  near,  if  not 
on  the  very  spot,  where  the  wall  of  the  east  end  of  the 
church  of  St.  George  now  stands.  Gregson,  in  his 
Fragments  of  Lancashire,  says,  "The  ancient  Fire 
Beacon  of  Everton  was  standing  a  few  years  ago,  but 
it  presented  evident  marks  of  decay ;  if  not  built  at 
an  earlier  date,  by  some  other  person,  it  was  probably 
built  about  anno  1220,  by  Ranulph  Blundeville,  Earl 
of  Chester,  who  erected  Beeston  Castle,  which  is 
visible  from  the  site  of  the  late  Everton  Beacon.  *  *  * 
Possessed  of  considerable  property  in  the  vicinage,  it 
is  most  likely  Ranulph  would  not  neglect  to  build  a 
range  of  beacons,"  &c. 


ANTIQUITIES.  57 

With  submission  it  is  hinted  here,  that  Mr.  Gregson 
has  grounded  his  argument,  as  to  the  founder  or  builder 
of  this  beacon,  on  erroneous  surmises.  Gregson  pro- 
ceeds to  say,  "  Beacons  were  objects  of  much  attention 
during  the  threatened  invasion  of  Spain,  tempo  Queen 
Elizabeth;  and  that  at  Everton  was  considered  useful 
during  the  late  war."  The  last  sentence  is  evidently 
erroneous,  the  old  beacon  at  Everton  was  not  used 
during  the  late  war,  being  altogether  destroyed  in  the 
year  1803  :  but  during  the  late  war,  in  the  year  1804, 
a  signal  station  was  established  by  government,  at  a 
few  paces  distant,  on  the  south,  from  the  site  of  the 
late  old  beacon.  This  station  occupied  a  space  of 
about  500  square  yards,  on  which  stood  a  low  wood- 
built  cottage,  a  garden,  and  a  telegraph.* 

Mr.  Gregson  perhaps  was  not  aware  that  some  per- 
sons were  of  opinion  that  the  late  Everton  beacon  was 
erected  during  the  time  the  Spanish  Armada  was 
expected  to  arrive  on  the  coast  of  Britain.  It  is  not 
intended  to  offer  any  absolute  opinion  on  such  sur- 
mise ;  but  the  description  of  the  beacon,  hereafter  to 
be  given,  may  lead  readers  to  their  own  conclusions : 
it  is  however  pretty  certain  that  the  late  beacon  of 
Everton  was  not  built  prior  to  the  year  1327;  for 
Rees,  in  his  Cyclopedia,  under  the  head  "beacon," 
states,  "that  before  the  time  of  Edward  III.,  beacons 
were  but  stacks  of  wood,  to  be  fired  on  the  appearance 

*  About  the  same  period  (1804),  a  beacon  of  faggots  was  constructed 
on  the  south  side  of  Walton  Cop ;  but  some  mischievous  person  or  per- 
sons set  fire  to  the  beacon,  which  consumed  it,  some  months  after  it 
was  constructed. 


58  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

of  an  enemy ;  but  in  Edward's  reign,  pitched  boxes 
were  set  up,  instead  of  beacons  of  sticks." 

The  following  memoranda  were  drawn  up  from  a 
close,  ocular  inspection  made  of  the  late  Everton 
beacon,  in  the  year  1802.  "  On  a  fine  afternoon,  in 
December,  1802,  two  persons,  fond  of  exploring  an- 
cient structures,  visited  the  beacon,  which  then  stood 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  distant,  due  west,  from  the 
mere  or  watering  place  of  Everton. 

"Of  the  exterior  appearance  of  the  beacon,  at  that 
time,  the  wood-cut,  presented  at  the  head  of  these 
remarks,  will  give  a  tolerably  just  idea;  it  was  sketched 
on  the  spot,  at  the  time  the  visit  here  treated  of  was 
made.  As  to  the  plate  annexed,  it  is  very  nearly  a 
copy  of  a  drawing  taken  by  an  amateur — a  friend  of 
the  late  John  Tarlton,  Esq., — who  took  the  sketch 
purposely  for  Mr.  Tarlton,  some  fifty  years  ago. 

"The  beacon  was  a  plain,  square,  stone  edifice,  or 
tower,  two  stories  in  height,*  no  way  remarkable  as 
to  the  style  or  solidity  of  its  structure;  it  was  of  plain, 
homely  masonry,  and  the  stone  of  which  it  was  built 
was  of  a  dull  reddish  brown  colour,  such  as  is  pro- 
cured on  the  spot,  the  site  of  the  late  beacon  being 
a  solid  mass  of  the  same  kind  of  stone,  as  is,  indeed, 
the  greater  part  of  the  hill  of  Everton.  A  flight  of 
narrow  and  inconvenient  stone  steps  led  to  the  upper 
apartment;  and  a  similar  flight  to  the  flat  roof,  or 
terrace  platform.  There  was  only -one  apartment  on 

*  Some  accounts  have  stated  "  three  j"  but  such  statement  is  erro- 
neous. 


ANTIQUITIES.  59 

the  basement  story,  the  floor  of  which  was  of  earth  or 
clay,  level  with  the  surface  of  the  field  outside.  In 
one  corner  was  a  dilapidated  fire-place,  connected 
with  an  ill-constructed  chimney,  so  strait,  that  a 
poor  boy,  in  his  ascent,  stuck  fast,  and  was  nearly 
suffocated  with  rubbish  and  dust ;  he  was  extricated 
by  a  part  of  the  chimney  being  taken  down.  The 
cattle  put  to  graze  in  the  beacon-field,  had  free 
ingress  and  egress  to  and  from  the  beacon. 

"  Of  the  upper  apartment,  nothing  eulogious  can  be 
stated ;  its  appearance  was  bare,  cheerless,  and  dun- 
geon-like. On  the  walls  of  that  apartment  many 
initials,  and  indeed  full  length  names,  were  chiselled; 
but  none  of  celebrity.  In  the  south-west  corner  of  the 
roof,  or  terraced  platform,  was  a  large  receptacle,  or 
cistern,  composed  of  stone  and  cement,  intended 
originally  for  the  reception  of  combustible  matter, 
wherewith  a  sufficient  light  might  be  raised  to  give 
concerted  signals  of  approaching  danger  to  other 
stations.  At  the  time  of  this  visit  (1802),  a  goose- 
berry-tree and  a  thorn-bush  had  found  soil  sufficient 
on  the  roof  and  ledging  of  the  east  wall  to  take  root, 
and  during  many  past  summers  were  known  to  have 
flourished  in  the  full  vigour  of  vegetation. 

"The  orifices,  for  the  admission  of  light  and  air 
into  the  beacon,  were  little  other  than  such  casements 
as  are  found  in  cottages  of  old  standing ;  and  to  all 
appearance,  for  a  considerable  length  of  time  previous 
to  this  visit,  those  openings  had  not  had  frame-work 


60  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

of  any  kind  in  them — through  those  apertures  the 
elements  freely  entered,  and  as  freely  retired." 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  no  actual  measurement  of 
the  beacon  took  place  at  the  visit  of  1802,  but  one 
of  the  visiting  party  furnishes,  from  memory,  the  fol- 
lowing additional  descriptive  observations.  "The 
exterior  of  the  base,  or  foundation,  of  the  late  Everton 
beacon,  was  about  6  yards  square,  and  its  height  some 
25  feet ;  the  greater  part  of  the  marks  of  decay  which 
it  presented,  was  evidently  the  work  of  neglect.  On 
the  south  side,  there  was  a  large,  long  crack  or  chasm 
in  the  wall  of  the  building,  many  stones  were  much 
broken  at  most  of  the  angles,  and,  in  some  places,  it 
would  almost  appear  that  wantonness  or  design  had 
actually  picked  out  entire  stones.  To  such  depreda- 
tions the  building  was  freely  exposed,  it  being  in 
every  respect  open,  unwatched,  and  unguarded." 

.The  persons  who  furnished  the  above  memoranda, 
were  probably  the  last  who  visited  the  late  Everton 
beacon,  with  views  of  observation,  for,  during  a  stormy 
night,  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  1803,  that  ancient 
edifice  was  felled,  or  razed  to  the  ground,  and  disap- 
peared almost  as  suddenly  as  Aladdin's  magnificent 
palace.  Rumour  blazoned  it  forth,  that  the  wind 
blew  it  down ;  and  if  credit  can  be  given  to  the  man 
who  said,  "  certain  rats  had  eaten  a  ton  of  iron,"  it 
may  be  believed  that  the  wind  levelled  the  stone 
tower,  or  beacon  of  Everton. 

The  marks  of  decay  which  the  beacon  presented, 


ANTIQUITIES.  61 

in  the  year  1803,  may  not  be  altogether  conclusive  of 
its  claim  to  very  high  antiquity,  particularly  when  it 
is  considered  that  it  had  long  remained  open,  unte- 
nanted,  and  neglected,  and  exposed  too,  without  shelter 
of  any  kind,  to  elemental  storms,  as  well  as  to  the 
depredations  of  mischievous  idlers,  and  casual  visitors. 
Considering  these  things,  and  hearing  in  mind  that 
the  beacon  was  of  pigmy  dimensions,  and  of  compa- 
ratively slight  structure,  its  erection  can  barely  be 
supposed  to  have  a  claim  to  very  remote  antiquity. 

Marriages  are  said  to  have  been  solemnized  in  the 
beacon  at  the  time  the  clergy  were  expatriated  from 
Liverpool  for  their  loyalty,  during  the  civil  wars  be- 
tween Charles  I.  and  his  parliament.  A  watch-move- 
ment maker  resided  at  the  beacon,  a  short  time  after 
the  year  1770 ;  but  the  last  person  said  to  have  been 
the  beacon's  tenant  was  an  old  cobbler,  who  dwelt 
there,  under  a  host  of  inconveniences,  in  or  about  the 
year  1783;  but  what  rent  he  paid,  tradition  sayeth 
not.  The  eye  commanded  a  most  picturesque  and 
pleasing  inland  view  from  the  roof  of  the  late  beacon ; 
nor  was  the  sea-ward  prospect  from  thence  one  jot 
inferior — from  few  stations  indeed,  far  or  wide,  could 
a  better  be  obtained. 

Having  thus  described  and  disposed  of  the  beacon, 
a  brief  account  will  be  next  entered  upon,  touching 
all  ancient  dwellings  which  have  been  demolished  at 
Everton  in  late  years. 

Two  buildings,  consisting  of  a  house  and  outhouses, 


62  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

stood,  for  a  great  length  of  time,  at  the  distance  of  a 
few  yards  on  the  N.  E.  of  the  late  heacon,  which  were 
destroyed  hy  fire,  on  Shrove-Tuesday,  in  the  year 
1 782 :  during  the  conflagration,  the  flames,  at  times, 
communicated  to  the  beacon.  It  is  supposed  they 
were  set  on  fire  by  gipsies,  who  had  bivouacked  in  a 
shed  on  the  premises,  and  near  to  a  stack  of  hay; 
though  rumour,  at  one  time,  accused  a  man  who,  soon 
after  or  during  the  conflagration,  for  private  reasons, 
absconded;  but  it  was  ultimately  satisfactorily  esta- 
blished that  the  suspected  runaway  was  not  the  incen- 
diary. A  family,  of  the  name  of  Oldham,  who  made 
the  place  a  summer  residence,  had,  for  some  time 
previous  to  the  calamity,  removed, for  the  winter  to 
their  town-house,  in  Liverpool.  Much  of  their  furni- 
ture, hay,  and  other  valuables,  was  destroyed,  but 
part  of  the  property  was  saved,  by  the  inhabitants  of 
Everton  and  neighbouring  places,  who  flocked  to  the 
spot  on  the  alarm  being  given  by  a  carter,  who  was 
passing  the  place  soon  after  three  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing ;  the  buildings  were  totally  destroyed. 

The  following  is  extracted  from  Gore's  paper  of 
14th  February,  1782: — "Twenty  pounds  reward. 
Whereas  a  fire  broke  out  early  on  Tuesday  morning, 
12th  instant,  at  the  dwelling-house  of  Mr.  Isaac 
Oldham,  of  Everton  (at  that  time  uninhabited);  and 
there  being  strong  reasons  to  suspect  it  was  mali- 
ciously and  wilfully  set  on  fire  by  some  person  or  per- 
sons unknown,  the  proprietors  of  the  Liverpool  Fire 
Office  do  offer  a  reward  of  twenty  pounds  to  any 


ANTIQUITIES.  63 

persons  who  will  give  information,  by  which  the  per- 
petrators of  so  outrageous  a  crime  may  be  convicted 
and  brought  to  justice. 

"  WM.  KEMP,  Secretary. 

"Fire  Office,  Castle-street,  13th  February,  1782." 

Some  time  previous  to  their  occupation  by  the  Old- 
ham  family,  one  of  the  buildings  now  alluded  to  had 
been,  for  a  considerable  time,  a  public-house,  which  the 
nobles  of  Everton,  and  others,  long  and  staunchly  pa- 
tronised, by  holding  frequent  sittings  in  its  white-limed 
chambers,  and  drinking  deep  "  of  its  nut-brown  ale." 

On  the  site  of  ground,  where  William  Robinson,  Esq. 
has  erected  two  excellent  dwellings,  marked  58,  a,  on 
the  map,  formerly  stood  a  cottage  and  outhouses. 
These  were  ancient  erections,  seated  below  the  level  of 
the  present  road,  and,  from  their  appearance,  would 
have  barely  suited  a  small  farmer,  as  a  place  of  resi- 
dence. If  report  be  true,  an  old  woman  long  dwelt 
there,  whose  name  and  fame  were  eminent  as  an 
excellent  compounder  of  cakes,  and  other  tempting 
articles  of  confectionary. 

On  the  locality  marked  50,  b,  there  stood  a  very 
ancient  cottage,  which  long  went  by  the  name  of  the 
Throstle's  Nest;  to  this  cottage  many  outbuildings 
were  attached.  The  stables,  erected  by  the  late 
George  Roach,  Esq.,  now  stand  on  the  spot  formerly 
occupied  by  tliis  cottage,  which,  to  judge  from  external 
appearances,  must  have  been  the  oldest  dwelling  of 
any  that  stood  in  the  township,  within  the  knowledge 
or  recollection  of  the  present  existing  race.  It  must 


64  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

have  been  long  an  admirable  place  of  residence,  as  to 
pure  air  and  prospect,  for  it  stood  on  the  very  summit 
of  the  hill,  without  let  or  hindrance  of  view  before  it ; 
the  building  itself  was  but  humble-looking,  though  in 
better  style,  and  affording  more  accommodation,  than 
the  cottage  of  Prince  Rupert. 

On  the  lot  marked  36,  c,  there  was  a  cottage, 
which  was  taken  down  in  the  year  1784,  and  the 
house  on  its  site  (lately  occupied  by  the  Misses 
Paisley,)  was  then  erected,  by  the  late  William 
Harper,  Esq. — a  praise-worthy  undertaking,  and  de- 
serving of  record,  as  the  meritorious  act  of  a  pros- 
perous son,  whose  filial  affection  instigated  and 
determined  him  to  erect  a  respectable,  comfortable, 
and  commodious  dwelling  for  his  aged  parents.  The 
last  person  who  resided  in  the  cottage  was  a  butcher, 
who  kept  his  stall  at  the  place. 

Very  near  to  the  last-named  place,  in  the  west,  on 
locality  36,  b,  stood  a  long,  low,  cottage-like,  white 
house,  the  last  occupier  of  which  was  a  worthy,  though 
humble,  disciple  of  Pomona  and  Flora;  in  other  words, 
an  honest  old  gardener,  and,  as  he  dubbed  himself, 
a  professor  of  botany,  whose  name  was  William 
Harrison. 

William's  skill  in  the  practical  parts  of  his  profes- 
sion was  not  above  mediocrity,  and,  in  its  theoretical 
branches,  was  still  further  removed  from  perfection ; 
but  he  had  some  vanity,  and  in  the  course  of  time 
persuaded  himself  that  he  was  a  second  LinnaBus. 
Urged  on  by  self-conceit,  he  had  the  temerity  to  at- 


ANTIQUITIES.  65 

tempt  a  course  of  botanical  lectures.  At  the  appointed 
time,  having  gathered  together  a  number  of  open- 
mouthed  auditors,  the  professor  made  his  appearance, 
and  with  much  self-complacency,  after  three  emphatic 
hems !  commenced  his  lecture,  which  ran  very  nearly 
thus : — 

"  I  must  inform  you,  my  friends,  in  the  first  place, 
that  what  we  call  botany,  is  nothing  at  all  only  the 
work  that  nature  does  for  us  in  the  fields  and  gardens. 
Now  you  will  very  naturally  wish  to  know  what  na- 
ture is — and  I  will  tell  you.  Nature,  do  you  see,  my 
good  friends,  nature  is  a  sort  of  a — that  is — hem ! — a 
— a — aye,  nature,  you  must  know  is,  as  I  was  going 
to  say,  nature  is — a — a — a  something  like — a  kind 
of  n'  a — sort-en-a dang  it !  my  good  fellows,  na- 
ture is  nature  !  " 

The  ill  suppressed  titters  of  his  audience  alarmed 
poor  lecturer  Harrison's  wits,  and  smothered  his 
ideas ;  his  capabilities  floundered,  he  essayed  to  stam- 
mer out  a  few  unintelligible  sentences,  but  at  length, 
covered  with  confusion,  rushed  from  the  forum,  and 
was  never  afterward  known  to  give  lectures  on  botany. 

William  Harrison's  cottage  also  disappeared  very 
shortly  after  its  neighbour  was  demolished,  and  on,  or 
very  nearly  on  its  site,  are  now  an  excellent  house 
and  garden  grounds,  the  property  of  Doctor  Brandreth, 
of  Liverpool,  and  the  residence  of  Rt.  Benn,  Esq., 
merchant,  of  the  same  place.  This  elegant  though 
moderate  sized  villa  was  formed  by  Doctor  Brandreth, 
out  of  an  extensive  range  of  stabling,  which  had  been, 

F 


66  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

in  the  first  instance,  constructed  by  the  late  William 
Harper,  Esq.,  whose  third  surviving  and  youngest 
daughter  the  Doctor  married. 

In  the  S.  E.,  very  near  to  the  two  last-named  cot- 
tages, but  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road,  stood  an 
old  dwelling,  and  a  barn,  on  locality  1 7,  d.*  These 
places  were  taken  down  twenty-four  years  ago,  by  John 
Pyke,  Esq.,  to  whom  they  belonged,  and  who,  at  that 
time,  erected  the  present  handsome  dwelling-house 
which  occupies  the  whole  of  this  lot :  its  space  was  so 
small,  that  the  house  and  out-offices  almost  cover  it. 

On  the  west  front  of  the  locality  marked  50,  a, 
about  half  a  century  ago,  stood  a  very  ancient  small 
dwelling.  One  of  the  last,  if  not  the  very  last  tenant 
of  which  was  an  old  woman,  who  died  there.  The 
careful  old  body  had  hoarded  up  some  gold,  which, 
rumour  says,  was  found  by  a  buxom  young  lass,  with 
which  she  bought  a  husband ;  but,  alas !  she  found 
that  "  wealth  has  wings,"  or,  in  other  words,  matters 
went  ill  with  her  during  the  remainder  of  her  life. 

Another  very  ancient  cottage  stood  in  the  village, 
on  the  locality  16,  b,  which  was  taken  down  about 
twenty  years  since,  and  a  very  snug  dwelling-house 
erected  on  its  site,  by  the  present  owner,  Mr.  Richard 
Naylor,  chief  dairyman  of  the  township,  who  has 
since  resided  there.  An  inscription,  carved  on  a  stone 

*  In  many  of  the  old  maps  there  is  an  error  hereabout ;  in  some  of 
them,  17,  rf,  is  not  delineated,  the  whole  of  that  corner  of  land  being 
given  as  the  property  of  Mrs.  Bennet,  and  marked  70,  a  ;  but  in  reality, 
this  17,  d,  is,  and  time  out  of  mind  has  been,  distinct  property  belonging 
still  to  the  Pyke  family. 


ANTIQUITIES.  67 

inserted  in  the  wall  of  that  cottage,  o\7er  the  fire-place, 
gave  the  time  of  its  erection  1650. 

At  a  creachy,  ruinous  hovel,  in  the  close  vicinity 
of  the  last-named  cottage,  a  poor  old  woman  long 
dwelt,  who,  on  a  pittance  of  some  one  shilling  or 
eighteen-pence  a  week,  contrived  to  keep  body  and 
soul  together.  There  are  such  people  still  existing, 
but  how  they  manage  is  an  enigma.  In  the  present 
case  the  circumstance  was  the  more  remarkable,  the 
poor  old  woman  being  a  slatternly  dawdle  ;  but  her 
neighbours  were  kind  to  her,  as  the  following  anecdote 
and  colloquy  will  shew. 

A  neighbour  of  poor  old  Molly's,  one  day  called 
from  the  threshold  of  her  door  to  inform  the  harmless 
creature  that  she  had  heated  her  oven,  and  if  she 
wished  to  bake  a  potatoe  pie  in  it  for  her  dinner,  she 
was  welcome.  "Bless  you!  aye,  I  should  like  it 
weel  enough,"  replied  Molly,  "but  I  happen  not  to 
ha'  a  morsel  o'  flesh  iW  house  to-day."*  "  O  never 
mind  that,"  cried  the  kind  neighbour,  "come  this 
way,  an'  I'll  gi'  ye  part  'n  a  nice  bit  o'  pork  I  bought 
yesterday."  "  Weel,  your  vast  good ;  but,  now  I 
think  on't,  I  don't  believe  I've  got  a  potatoe  i'th' 
house."  "That's  no  great  matter  nother;  so  come, 
Molly,  and  I'll  gi'  ye  as  many  potatoes  as  will  sarve." 
"  Well,  I'm  sure  you're  vast  good,  an'  so  I'll  set  about 
\ifarrantly — but  laws  bless  me!  I  welly  think  I  ha' 
not  a  dust  o'  flour  for  th'  crust."  "  Well,  to  be  sure ! " 
exclaimed  the  neighbour.  "  But  never  mind,  Molly, 

*  Literally  the  language  used. 


68  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

you  sha'nt  be  disappointed,  I'll  gi'  you  as  much  flour 
as  will  sarve  your  turn  this  time;  so  hurry  hither, 
woman — 'prithee  ma'  haste  whiles  th'  oven's  hot." 
Molly  accordingly  went  over  and  received  the  meat, 
potatoes,  and  flour,  to  which  was  added  a  sprinkling 
of  salt  and  pepper ;  hut  just  as  she  was  on  the  thresh- 
old of  the  neighbour's  cottage,  she  suddenly  stopped 
to  inform  her  friend  she  had  one  want  more,  in  short, 
she  had  not  a  dish  to  bake  her  pie  in.  This  also  was 
supplied;  and  thus  poor  Molly  was  furnished  with 
every  requisite,  and  with  all  the  ingredients  necessary, 
to  fabricate  her  potatoe  pie — for  even  as  to  water,  that 
also  her  neighbour's  pump  supplied.  Thus,  in  some 
degree,  is  solved  the  enigma,  how  such-like  poor 
old  creatures  of  small,  aye  and  of  large  towns,  con- 
trive to  live.  For  the  homeliness  of  all  the  circum- 
stances of  this  anecdote,  the  faithfulness  of  the  picture 
of  the  language  and  manners  of  the  last  age  must 
apologize. 

There  was  an  ancient  dwelling  on  the  locality 
marked  48,  b,  but  it  was  taken  down  some  fifty  years 
ago,  by  the  late  Mr.  Tristram,  who  then  erected  the 
house  and  offices  which  now  occupy  the  site  of  the 
ancient  dwelling.  Mrs.  or  Molly  Bushell  (a  very 
different  Molly  to  our  poor  old  Molly  afore-named,) 
long  lived  at  the  place  here  alluded  to.  Mrs.  Bushell, 
or  rather  Molly  Bushell,  for  she  was  scarcely  known 
by  any  other  name,  became  celebrated  as  the  first 
fabricator  of  that  luscious  confection,  called  "Everton 
toffy."  Her  factory  of  sweets,  however,  was  at  a 


ANTIQUITIES.  69 

house  nearly  opposite  to  the  dwelling  above-named, 
to  which  place  she  removed  when  the  old  house  was 
taken  down. 

There  was  an  old  cottage  at  the  S.  W.  corner  of 
locality  40,  c,  a  small,  uncomfortable  place,  which  was 
erected,  there  is  little  doubt,  when  the  surrounding 
land  was  waste  or  common,  for  it  stood  in  a  strange 
angular  position,  its  front  facing  the  S.  W.  It  was 
taken  down  when  Messrs.  Aspinall  built  their  houses 
on  the  terrace. 

There  was  also  a  still  more  miserable  ancient  place 
of  residence,'  on  locality  27,  b.  A  more  particular 
description  of  this  hovel  will  be  given  hereafter. 

Almost  from  time  immemorial,  until  the  year  1 788, 
there  had  been  a  pinfold,  where  cattle  were  im- 
pounded, which  stood  near  to,  if  not  exactly  at,  the 
entrance  gates  to  the  grounds  of  Charles  Shand,  Esq., 
in  what  is  now  called  Rupert-lane  :  the  situation  was 
most  appropriate,  for,  in  former  days,  the  town's  smithy 
was  exactly  opposite  to  that  pinfold.  When  it  was 
demolished,  another  pinfold  was  constructed  in  the 
N.  W.  of  Evertoii ;  and  more  recently,  one  has  been 
placed  near  the  mere. 

It  was  in  the  year  1788  that  the  late  William 
Harper,  Esq.  so  much  improved  Rupert-lane,  which, 
previous  to  that  period,  was  rough,  ill-formed,  and 
sandy ;  he  had  the  pinfold  removed,*  the  road  paved, 

*  1st  May,  1764.  There  is  a  minute  made  in  the  town's  boot,  of  a  re- 
solution passed  at  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants,  authorising  Mr.  Halsall 
to  make  this  removal. — Mr.  Harper  purchased  "  Croft  on  the  hill "  from 
Mr.  HalsalPs  heirs. 


70  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

and  the  iiortli  side  fenced  off  or  bordered  with  a  neat, 
high,  and  strong  stone  wall ;  and,  in  what  is  termed  a 
"give-and-take  "  way,  he  exchanged  land  so  as  to 
draw  tolerably  straight  lines  in  the  formation  of 
the  road.  For  some  part  of  the  township's  land  on 
the  south,  which  he  enclosed,  he  gave  other  land, 
and  widened  the  road  in  the  west,  opposite  to  Mr. 
Ellinthorp's  buildings,  commencing  the  present  broad 
formation  of  the  south  end  of  the  terrace,  which, 
many  years  afterwards,  the  township  completed,  by 
purchasing  and  laying  to  that  road  some  lands  and 
sites  of  houses  belonging  to  the  heirs  of  the  late 
Daniel  Backhouse,  Esq. 

Until  the  year  1820,  there  stood  an  ancient  cross  in 
the  village,  in  the  centre  of  the  wide  open  space  lying 
between  the  enclosures  or  lots,  marked  on  the  map 
55,  a,  and  25,  b,  about  a  hundred  yards  distant,  in 
the  east,  from  Rupert  cottage.  Although  destitute  of 
ornament,  and  not  remarkable  for  elegance  of  appear- 
ance, that  ancient  relique  ought  to  have  been  per- 
mitted to  remain, — it  was,  indeed,  Everton's  last 
remnant  of  antiquity ;  nor  did  its  presence  encumber 
or  obstruct  the  way,  for  where  the  cross  stood,  the 
road  is  very  wide  and  spacious,  so  that  neither  danger 
nor  inconvenience  was  created  by  its  presence  :  but, 
to  accommodate  some  whim,  or  the  accomplishment 
of  some  purpose,  not  worth  enquiring  or  examining 
into,  the  "  powers  that  then  were  "  demolished  and 
utterly  destroyed  the  cross  of  Everton.  Until  a  few 
years  previous  to  the  cross  being  removed,  there  was 


ANTIQUITIES.  71 

a  dial  affixed  on  the  upper  surface  of  the  pillar  or 
shaft,  charges  for  repairing  which  often  occur  in  the 
town's  accounts ;  but  at  length  it  was  suffered  to  be 
destroyed. 

At  no  very  great  distance  from  the  S.  E.  boundary 
of  Everton,  once  stood  a  large  and  strong  stone  castle, 
the  site  of  which  is  little  more  than  a  musquet-shot 
distant,  in  the  east,  from  the  chapel  at  West  Derby. 
It  was  erected  by  Edward  the  Confessor;  and  no  doubt 
oftentimes,  and  particularly  in  turbulent  seasons,  the 
occupiers  of  that  castle  not  only  held  rule  and  domi- 
nion over  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  Everton,  but 
afforded  them  protection. 

The  site  of  an  ancient  castle,  at  West  Derby,  is 
named  at  the  inquisition  held  at  Lancaster,  in  1327, 
and  also  in  the  Doomsday-book :  timber  and  hewn 
stone  have  recently  been  dug  out  of  its  crumbled 
ruins.  Mr.  Me  George,  of  Everton,  has  a  handsome 
writing-desk,  constructed  of  a  piece  of  oak  which  was- 
dug  out  of  these  ruins.  On  a  brass  plate  of  that 
writing-desk,  the  following  sentence  is  inscribed; 
"  This  desk  was  made  from  part  of  an  oak  beam  that 
was  dug  out  of  the  ruins  of  Edward  the  Confessor's 
castle,  at  West  Derby,  Lancashire,  supposed  to  have 
been  built  anno  domini  1050;  executed  under  the 
direction  of  J.  Me  George,  of  Everton,  1826." 
There  is  a  remarkable  well  or  spring  near  to  the  site 
of  the  old  castle.  But  these  matters  belong  to  the 
history  of  West  Derby. 

A  part  of  the  north  border  of  the  lands  of  Everton 


72  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

is  denominated  "  Headless  Cross ; "  but  what  Head- 
less Cross  was,  or  indeed  where  it  exactly  stood,  is 
but  imperfectly  known, — tradition  is  silent  on  the 
subject, — but  in  old  maps  and  title  deeds,  the  name  is 
still  used.  If  the  mark  on  the  old  maps  truly  points 
out  the  place  where  Headless  Cross  stood,  it  must 
have  been  situated  on  the  bleak  and  open  common, 
and  may  have  been  placed  there  as  a  memento  of 
some  atrocious  deed,  or  great  public  event. 


SECTION  IV. 


CURSORY  OBSERVATIONS, 

ON  THE  GEOLOGY;  THE  PRODUCTIONS,  EXTENT,  AND  VALUE 
OF  THE  SOIL;  THE  POPULATION;  AND  THE  CLIMATE  OF 
EVERTON. 


nature  laid  the  foundation  of  Everton,  she 
was,  undoubtedly,  in  one  of  her  common-place  hu- 
mours, for  all  which  has,  thus  far,  been  seen  of  its 
substructure,  or  parts  that  lie  beneath  the  surface  of 
its  soil,  gives  no  promise  of  interest  to  the  geologist. 

Except  in  a  few  instances,  to  procure  free-stone* 
for  architectural  purposes,  man  has  made  no  ap- 
proaches to  examine  into  the  subterranean  parts,  or 
"  bowels,"  of  Everton.  Some  of  its  small  quarries 
have  .yielded  the  required  supplies  of  excellent, 
durable,  reddish,  or  chocolate-coloured  free-stone; 
but  when  the  immediate  wants  have  been  supplied, 
the  private  quarries  have  been  filled  up,  and  no 
longer  worked,  with  only  one  exception,  that  of  the 

*  It  appears,  on  the  face  of  the  old  map  of  1716,  that  our  ancestors 
quarried  in  Everton  for  stone,  there  being  on  that  map  marked  "  Stone 
Quarry,"  and  that  quarry  must  have  been  near  to  where  Mr.  Lang's 
houses  now  stand. 


74  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

quarry  in  the  N.  W.,  where  operations  are  now  con- 
tinued, and  carried  on  in  the  way  of  trade. 

It  would  appear  that  all  the  hilly  parts  of  Everton 
are  composed  of  solid  masses  of  this  reddish-coloured 
free-stone,  covered,  but  in  many  places  only  thinly, 
with  friable  calcareous  earth.  In  the  formation 
of  Shaw-street,  much  of  the  same  sort  of  stone 
has  been  procured  near  the  surface,  and  sold,  the 
operations  being  chiefly  carried  on  in  a  part  of  the 
street  opposite  to  where  a  church  is  building  in  the 
south-east  quarter  of  the  street ;  but  the  quarrying 
for  stone  has  latterly  been  extended  to  the  adjoining 
land  on  the  west.  Copyholders  of  Everton  will  take 
notice  that  the  owner  of  this  land  can  sell  the  stone 
he  quarries,  for  the  land  has  been  enfranchised,  and 
is  freehold, 

The  stone  of  Everton  is  durable,  and  answers  well 
for  architectural  purposes,  of  which  many  ancient 
buildings  bear  proof;  its  colour,  however,  is  not 
likely  to  recommend  it  to  general  use,  and  not 
more  frequently  perhaps  than  when  other  stone  can- 
not be  procured  without  considerable  expense.  If 
castles,  or  stupendous  edifices,*  were  ever  to  be 
again  erected,  the  sombre  hue  of  the  Everton  stone 
would  be  well  calculated  for,  and  congenial  with,  such 
erections;  but  for  light,  tasty,  modern  buildings,  it 
must  give  place  to  all  free-stones  of  lighter,  brighter, 
and  whiter  hues. 

*  Some  additional  remarks  on  the  north  quarry  stone  will  be  met  with 
in  the  section  of  the  north-west  district. 


CURSORY  OBSERVATIONS.  75 

Not  any  kind  of  metallic  ore,  or  beds  of  coal,  have 
been  discovered  in  Everton ;  nor  is  there,  in  tie  entire 
township,  the  slightest  indications  of  such  treasures 
being  hidden  in  its  terrene  bosom. 

The  greater  part  of  the  superstrata,  or  upper  coat 
of  the  soil  of  Everton,  is  shallow,  sandy,  and  calca- 
reous. There  are,  indeed,  some  few  patches  of  land 
in  the  township  which  are  tolerably  fertile;  for  the 
most  part,  however,  the  soil  of  Everton  is  but  mode- 
rately fertile,  and  certainly  stands  very  much  in  need 
of  the  artificial  aid  of  the  husbandman.  Not  that  the 
soil  of  Everton  is  to  be  altogether  held  in  contempt, 
although,  as  to  high  purposes  of  agriculture,  it  may 
rank  only  as  land  of  mediocre  value ;  yet  its  meadows 
aiford  very  tolerable,  and,  in  some  parts,  ample  pas- 
turage, for  the  cattle  of  many  graziers  and  dairymen. 
Pretty  fair  crops  of  hay,  too,  are  occasionally  carted 
from  its  fields ;  and  horticulture,  with  some  artificial 
aids,  is  carried  on  in  the  township  to  a  moderate 
extent,  more  especially  by  the  gentry,  in  grounds 
contiguous  to  their  dwellings. 

Neither  corn  nor  edible  roots,  on  a  scale  worthy  of 
note,  are  attempted  to  be  produced  on  the  lands  of 
Everton;.  but  some  amateurs,  and  many  of  the 
gardeners  of  the  gentry,  raise  fine  fruit,  both  natu- 
rally and  by  heat.  There  are  two  nurseries,  but  not 
any  extensive  grounds  dedicated  to  the  exclusive 
service  of  Pomona,  in  Everton ;  the  orchards  are 
scarcely  worthy  of  remark;  and  there  is  but  one 
public  garden  in  the  whole  township,  and  in  that 


76  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

only  strawberries,  and  other  small  fruits,  are  culti- 
vated and  produced. 

The  surface  of  Everton  is  of  small  extent.  About 
the  year  1790,  it  was  measured  with  tolerable  accu- 
racy, and  the  result  gave  rather  more  than  310 
acres,  which  varies  but  in  a  trifling  degree  from 
the  earliest  accounts  of  the  measure  of  the  township. 
Gregson,  who  took  some  pains  to  ascertain  the  point, 
states,  that  the  accounts  given  of  Everton' s  size  in 
days  of  yore,  differ  but  little  from  what  it  is  stated  to 
be  in  modern  times.* 

In  remote  ages,  the  names  of  certain  measures,  or 
quantities  of  land,  were  such  as  are  now  no  longer  in 
use ;  our  forefathers  employed  certain  terms  for  such 
purposes,  or  meanings,  which  were,  no  doubt,  well 
understood  by  them ;  but  there  are  few,  if  any,  who 
now  clearly  know  the  real  measure  and  extent  of  a 
hide,  a  bovate,  a  virgate,  a  caracute,  an  oxgang,  or 
such  like  portions  and  parcels  of  land.f  Such  words 

.  *  According  to  a  census  taken  in  the  year  1327,  there  were  computed 
to  be  then  24  oxgangs  of  land  in  Everton ;  which,  at  12J  acres  to  the 
oxgang,  gives  300  acres  in  the  whole. 

f  The  following  tahle  has  been  constructed  from  the  best  authors ; 
but,  on  the  whole,  there  is  much  uncertainty : — 

]  hide  of  land  was  equal  to  120  acres,  or,  as  some  say,  100  acres. 

1  virgate  of  land  was  equal  to  40  acres. 

1  oxgang  or  bovate  was  equal  to  12^  or  13  acres. 

1  caracute  was  equal  to  about  25  acres. 

Note. — One  author  says,  "  six  caracutes  make  a  hide  of  land 
between  the  Ribble  and  the  Mersey ; "  and  another  author  says, 
"  one  caracute  is  one-fourth  part  of  a  hide  of  land." 

1  knight's  fee  was  equal  to  5  hides  of  land. 

In  Gregson's  Fragments  of  Lancashire,  it  is  stated  that  15  caracutes 
make  4  hides  of  land. 


CURSORY  OBSERVATIONS.  77 

or  terms  are  never  met  with  now,  nor  are  they  to  be 
found  in  the  oldest  deeds  or  transfer-documents ;  but 
there  are  still  some  strange  terms  retained,  and  which 
are  used  to  express  the  extent  of  certain  parcels  of 
land.  As  an  instance,  at  an  halmote-court  of  the 
lord  of  the  manor,  held  on  the  28th  May,  1828,  at 
West  Derby,  amongst  other  lands,  in  a  certain  sur- 
render made  at  that  time,  was  a  field,  or  piece  of 
land,  denominated  "eight  penny  worth  of  land ;"  the 
extent  of  which  was  very  nearly  three  quarters  of  an 
acre.  The  surrender  here  alluded  to,  is  that  of 
"  Tarbuck  to  Dugdale." 

It  would  appear  that,  at  some  remote  period,  our 
ancestors  were  taxed,  or  had  their  lands  valued,  at  a 
shilling  per  acre;  or,  as  in  the  case  of  the  great 
Everton  lease  for  1000  years,  the  chief  rent  being 
one  shilling  per  annum  per  acre,  breadths  of  land  of 
an  acre  in  extent  were  called  twelve  penny  worth  of 
land,  and  as  the  size  of  a  field  or  close  diminished,  or 
became  less  than  an  acre,  its  fractional  part  of  an 
acre  gave  it  the  corresponding  fractional  part  of  a 
shilling  for  denomination:  thus,  half 'an  acre  was  six 
penny  worth  of  land,  and  so  forth.  But  surely  it  is 
time  to  meet  the  better  taste  of  these  enlightened 
times;  such  strange  denominations  of  lands  should 
be  obliterated  from  all  conveyance  deeds,  and  give 
place  to  the  better  defined  names  of  the  measures  of 
the  day.  Bearing  on  this  subject,  a  hint  is  thrown 
out  here  touching  the  differences  of  extent  and  quan- 
tity contained  in  our  various  modem  acres,  and  which 


78  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

exist,  to  a  material  degree,,  even  in  counties  adjoining 
each  other.  It  would  be  a  satisfactory  measure  to 
equalize  the  extent  and  contents  of  all  British  acres  ; 
or  rather,  that  all  who  now  indiscriminately  use  the 
term  acre,  to  denote  various  and  excessive  quantities 
of  land,  would  discontinue  the  practice,  and  call  their 
excessive  measure  by  some  other  name ;  suffering  all 
acres  of  land  in  Britain  to  be  considered  statute  acres, 
and  neither  more  nor  less  in  quantity  than  statute 
acres  are.  A  slight  effort  would  accomplish  this,  and 
put  an  end  to  the  confusion  and  uncertainty  which 
so  frequently  occur,  whenever  the  word  acre  is  used, 
without,  at  the  same,  positively  defining,  classing, 
or  naming  the  description  of  acre  intended  to  be 
expressed. 

Everton  stands  much  indebted  to  its  owners  and 
occupiers  of  the  last  fifty  years  for  the  improvement 
of  its  appearance.  Little  more  than  half  a  centuiy 
ago,  heath,  gorse,  and  weeds  were,  for  the  most  part, 
its  general  crop;  and  unsightly  patches  of  barren, 
ill-enclosed  land  displeased  the  eye  at  every  glance ; 
whilst  now,  delightful  prospects,  at  every  turn,  and 
in  every  direction,  draw  the  observer's  attention. 
Everton  now  abounds  with  handsomely-walled  plea- 
sure grounds,  and  well-enclosed  fields,  and  is  con- 
veniently intersected  with  admirable  roads,  commo- 
dious to  the  equestrian  and  pedestrian,  for  most  of 
them  are  well  paved,  and  many  of  the  parapets  are 
flagged,  for  two-thirds  of  their  breadth,  with  admirable, 
well  laid  strong  flags,  whose  smooth  surface  affords 


CURSORY  OBSERVATIONS.  79 

pleasure  to  those  who  have  occasion  to  walk  upon 
them. 

The  respective  property  of  each  individual  of  the 
township  is  now  carefully  and  neatly  enclosed,  and 
all  the  localities  are  clearly  and  effectually  separated, 
with  strong,  and,  in  some  places,  handsome  stone 
walls  and  neatly  kept  hedge-rows ;  whilst  nearly  the 
entire  of  Everton's  surface  is  covered  with  dwellings, 
and  cultivated  lands,  the  latter  of  which  produce 
edibles  for  the  use  of  man  and  beast ;  and  the 
commons  and  wastes,  which  were  neglected  and 
unsightly,  are,  in  these  days,  redundant  in  vegetation, 
and  beautiful  to  behold. 

The  same  lands  of  Everton  are  now  let  at  £21 
per  annum  each  acre,  which,  in  periods  within  the 
recollection  of  many  now  living,  did  not  let  for  half 
as  many  shillings  per  acre :  the  parents  of  some  of 
the  proprietors  of  what  are  now  the  best  lands  in 
Everton,  gave  only  at  the  rate  of  about  £200  per 
acre  for  copyholds,  which,  in  extensive  lots,  have 
been  sold  within  the  last  two  years  at  5s.  per  square 
yard,  and  latterly  much  higher.  A  sale  has  been 
very  recently  made,  of  lands  in  the  S.  W.  of 
Everton,  amounting  in  value  (as  it  is  rumoured)  to 
£30,000,  for  which  5s.  per  square  yard  is  said  to 
have  been  obtained ;  whilst,  for  smaller  portions  of 
land  in  the  township,  near  to  where  it  joins  Liverpool, 
16s.  and  upwards  per  square  yard  is  given.  Great 
as  these  prices  seem  to  be,  particularly  when  com- 
pared with  those  given  for  the  same,  or  similar  lands, 


80  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

towards  the  middle,  and  even  the  close,  of  the  last 
century ;  yet  experienced  persons  are  of  opinion, 
that,  for  many  years  to  come,  the  value  of  lands  in 
Everton  will  progressively  advance.  Nor  can  such 
opinion  be  deemed  vague,  or  ill-founded,  when  the 
necessities  of  the  rapidly  encreasing  population  of 
Liverpool,  and  of  Everton  itself,  are  taken  into  full 
consideration. 

Buildings  are  compactly  clustered  in  Everton 
already,  and  more  particularly  of  late,  in  its  western 
parts.  Very  shortly,  indeed,  will  all  our  pleasant 
green  fields,  in  the  west,  he  converted  into  streets, 
squares,  and  enclosures,  for  the  uses  and  wants  of 
traders  and  manufacturers ;  and  at  no  great  distance 
of  time  hence,  there  will  not  he  a  tree,  shruh,  or 
flower  below  the  western  crest  of  Everton  hill,  except 
such  as  the  husbandman  takes  to  market,  or,  per- 
haps, some  few  straggling  remains  of  now  standing 
trees,  which  will  soon  be  sickly  and  drawn  up,  until 
they  typify  living  skeletons. 

The  greatest  price  known  to  have  been  obtained 
for  lands  at  Everton,  previous  to  the  year  1810 — the 
extent  of  the  lot  being  considered — was,  for  the  pur- 
chase of  about  half  an  acre  made  by  the  late  George 
Roach,  Esq.,  from  the  late  Daniel  Backhouse,  Esq., 
and  the  late  Ellis  Lorimer,  Esq.,  at  the  rate  of  13s. 
per  square  yard;  it  is  distant  about  one-third  of  a 
mile  from  Liverpool,  and  has  been  converted  into  a 
single  villa,  or  residence,  whereon  an  elegant  mansion 
now  stands. 


CURSORY  OBSERVATIONS.  81 

This  sale  is  a  striking  contrast  with  that  made  by 
a  Mr.  Halsall,  some  years  back,  who  sold  twelve 
acres  of  good  land,  at  Everton,  for  £125 ;  and  still 
more  so  with  a  sale  made  in  the  year  1549,  of  three 
fields,  measuring  two  and  a  half  acres,  for  which  only 
£15  was  obtained. 

The  deed  of  conveyance,  for  this  last-named  pro- 
perty, is  copied  and  given  in  the  Appendix.  The 
fields  still  bear  the  same  names  as  specified  in  the 
deed,  and  are  to  be  found  on  the  east  of  what  are 
termed  "  Aspinall's  buildings,"  being  at  the  back  of 
those  premises  across  the  road,  called  Church-street; 
and  they  are  not,  in  a  straight  line,  more  than  300  or 
400  yards  distant  from  the  land  sold,  as  before  stated, 
to  Mr.  Roach,  at  13s.  per  square  yard. 

Everton,  in  its  present  state,  presents  a  beautiful 
and  agreeable  appearance,  yet  it  must  be  granted 
that  its  beauties  and  advantages  would  be  materially 
enhanced,  were  it  more  extensively  wooded ;  nothing 
like  a  forest,  or  extensive  patch  of  woodland,  is  to  be 
found  in  the  entire  township ;  and,  save  and  except 
"  a  few  tall  trees,"  the  shrubberies  of  the  villas  and 
pleasure  grounds,  and,  in  a  few  instances,  on  the 
hems  of  fields,  Everton  is  lamentably  deficient  in 
the  most  essential  and  ornamental  feature  of  rural 
scenery. 

It  is  reasonable  to  conclude  that  wood  was  not 
scarce  at  Everton  in  ancient  times,  but  the  wants  of 
its  own  inhabitants,  and  those  of  its  neighbours,  when 
coal  was  little  known,  and  difficult  to  be  procured, 

G 


82  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

may  have  caused  the  woods  of  Everton  to  disappear 
under  the  operation  of  the  woodman's  axe.  Where 
also,  it  may  be  asked,  are  the  woods  and  forests  of 
West  Derby  ?  Knowsley,  it  is  true,  is  weU  wooded, 
and  many  other  patches  of  wood  may  be  met  with 
in,  and  not  very  remote  from  Everton ;  but  even 
these  reliques  of  a  once  well-wooded  country  are 
slowly  diminishing.  It  is  not  to  our  credit  to  write, 
that  we  of  these  enlightened,  but  (in  the  present 
case  at  least)  heedless  days,  hew  down  freely,  but 
plant  sparingly. 

Sir  Edward  Moore,  as  may  be  found  in  the 
"Stranger  in  Liverpool,"  mentions  a  wood  of  eight 
acres  extent,  which  had  been  planted  by  his  great 
grandfather:  it  lay  on  the  north  part  of  Liverpool, 
extending,  perhaps,  somewhat  into  Kirkdell  (Kirk- 
dale),  and  was  in  a  thriving  condition  in  the  year 
1667.  This  wood  could  only  have  been  a  few  yards 
distant  from  the  west-edge  of  Everton ;  but  where  is 
that  wood  now  ? — not  a  vestige  of  it  remains,  and  its 
site  is  barely  conjectural. 

But  in  what  manner  the  wood  above  alluded  to 
has  been  destroyed,  may  be  readily  imagined,  for  Sir 
Edward  Moore,  in  his  address  to  his  son,  goes  on  to 
say,  "  remember  you  always  give  a  charge  to  one  of 
your  servants  to  look  to  it,  otherwise  the  town  of 
Liverpool  will  absolutely  destroye  it."  This  is  a 
direct  reflection  on  the  habits  of  the  people  of  Liver- 
pool, whilst  those  of  Everton,  and  of  Kirkdale,  seem 
not  to  be  implicated  or  charged  in  any  way,  by 


CURSORY  OBSERVATIONS.  83 

Sir  Edward,  in  aiding  or  abetting  such  improper 
practices,  although  the  said  wood  was  on  their  very 
confines ;  therefore,  as  it  cannot  be  substantiated  that 
the  people  of  Everton,  and  of  Kirkdale,  were,  in  the 
days  in  question,  more  moral  or  more  honest  than 
their  neighbours  of  Liverpool,  it  may  be  presumed 
there  was  then  wood  in  Everton  itself,  and  in  West 
Derby,  where  the  people  of  Everton  had  right  of 
estovers,  sufficient  to  answer  the  wants  of  both  Ever- 
ton and  West  Derby.  But,  at  the  time  in  which 
Sir  Edward  treats,  the  immediate  neighbourhood  of 
Liverpool  could  not  have  been  over  wooded;  for  he 
goes  on  to  say,  speaking  still  of  the  wood, — "which, 
if  you  destroy e,  gould  will  scarce  buy  you  wood  for 
your  sufficient  use,  in  regard  of  the  great  skercity  of 
wood  about  you." 

It  is  now  too  late  to  attempt  the  embellishment  of 
the  western  parts  of  Everton  with  woody  patches, 
and  park-like  grounds ;  and  as  to  the  other  parts  of 
Everton,  the  grazier  and  the  dairyman  offer  more 
profitable  considerations  to  the  owners  of  land,  in  the 
shape  of  high  and  encreasing  rents,  than  wood  would 
yield ;  in  pasturage,  too,  the  lands  produce  an  imme- 
diate and  valuable  income,  whilst  the  emoluments 
that  might  be  derived  from  wood,  now  planted,  would 
be  uncertain,  and  could  not  be  realised  until  many 
a  flaxen  head  became  grey. 

There  are  many  circumstances  fast  approaching,  nay, 
actually  taking  place,  which  will  prove  serious  draw- 
backs to  the  future  claims  of  Everton,  as  a  delightful 


84  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

place  of  rural  residence.  The  circumstances  alluded 
to  are  already  felt,  Everton  being  frequently  enveloped 
in  dense  and  murky  vapours  which  the  crowded 
dwellings  and  factories  of  Liverpool  send  forth.  This 
nuisance,  it  may  be  feared,  will  be  constantly  on  the 
encrease ;  although  the  eastern  parts  of  Everton  will 
for  a  long,  a  very  long  time,  be  free  from  it. 

The  fast  augmenting  number  of  its  own  inhabitants 
has  also,  latterly,  given  a  town-like  character  to  the 
society  of  Everton ;  and  that  hospitable,  neighbourly, 
and  formless  intercourse  of  families,  so  peculiar  to 
rural  society,  is  now  rarely  to  be  met  with  in  the 
township,  except,  indeed,  amongst  relatives  and  near . 
connexions;  intercourse,  it  is  true,  is  still  kept  up 
between  those  whom  worldly  friendships,  and  motives 
of  interest  and  pleasure, — pleasure  not  infrequently 
akin  to  dissipation, — draw  together,  and  often  in 
congregations  of  such  overwhelming  numbers,  as  to 
cause  enjoyment  to  be  offensively  jostled  against,  and 
satisfaction  to  be  squeezed  out  of  their  entertaining 
rooms :  in  fine,  Everton  will  soon  become  a  site  and 
scene  whereon  "  the  plodding  citizens,  and  sons  of 
trade,"  will  play  busy  and  ostentatious  parts. 

It  may  be  as  well  to  run  over  here  a  brief  com- 
parative statement  of  the  numbers  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Everton  at  some  selected,  different  epochs,  con- 
trasting, in  their  extremes,  its  ancient  with  its  late 
and  present  population. 

.  The  most  ancient  account  extant,  which  can  lay 
any  claims  to  authenticity,  is  a  sort  of  census, 


CURSORY  OBSERVATIONS. 


85 


bearing  date  1327,  in  the  reign  of  Edward  III.; 
there  were  then  nineteen  nativi  (or  heads  of  families) 
in  the  township,  and  they,  as  it  is  there  written,  held 
24  oxgangs  of  land. 

Taking  five  for  the  number  of  individuals  in  each 
family,  the  population  of  Everton  must  have  been  at 
that  time,  ninety-five  souls.  If  this  be  near  the  fact, 
and  there  is  little  reason  to  doubt  its  being  so,  it 
would  appear,  that  some  centuries  after  the  time 
before  named,  but  little  addition  was  made  to  the 
population  of  Everton;  for  it  is  found,  by  documents 
in  the  town's  chest,  that,  in  the  year  1692,  there 
were  only  135  persons  residing  in  the  township,  and 
in  the  year  1714,  there  were  not  more  than  140. 
In  the  year  1769,  the  population  of  Everton  had 
encreased  to  the  number  of  253 ;  in  the  year  1 790, 
to  370;  in  1801,  to  499;  and,  in  1811,  amounted 
to  913. 

It  will  display  the  respectability  of  the  township's 
community,  and  may  prove  otherwise  interesting,  to 
give  a  statement  of  the  stations  in  life,  trades,  &c.  of 
the  housekeepers  who  resided  at  Everton  in  the 
year  1815. 


Patrician  1 

Brewers 3 

Brokers , 11 

Tanner  1 

Tobacconist   1 

Tax  Collectors  2 

Plumbers  2 

Masons  ..  2 


Painters 3- 

Carter 1 

Housekeeper-labourers  3 

Housekeeper-servant . .  1 

Currier  1 

Physician  1 

Widow-housekeepers ..  22 

Spinster-housekeepers.  11 


86  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

Gentlemen  not  in  trade  22         Hosier 1 

Stationer 1          Ironmongers 2 

Cooper  1         Bricklayer 1 

Hairdresser 1         Blacksmith  1 

Shoemaker 1          Merchants 44 

Drovers..  2         Lawyers 3 

Cowkeeper  1         Jeweller 1 

Pavier 1          Printer  1 

Clergymen  4         Liquor  merchants 2 

Architect   1          Tailors 2 

Schools 2         Glass  dealer 1 

Dentist  1         Drapers 2 

Shopkeeper  1          Cork  cutter 1 

Flour  dealer 1         Grocers 4 

Gardener  1         Joiners  7 

Shipwright  ; 1          Publicans  2 


In  1821,  a  very  correct  census  was  taken,  which 
gave  the  number  of  the  then  inhabitants  of  Everton, 
2109;  whilst  at  the  present  time,  1829,  it  is  pro- 
bable there  are  3763.  The  last  number  is  calculated 
from  the  ley-book  of  the  year,  which  gives  579 
inhabited  houses,  and  allowing  6^  individuals  to  each 
house,  the  total  is  as  above  stated.  The  number 
of  new  houses  already  completed,  together  with  those 
in  progress  of  building,  at  Everton,  in  the  years 
1829 — 30,  is  little,  if  at  all,  short  of  100.  Everton 
bids  fair  to  make  more  rapid  strides  in  the  encrease 
of  its  population  than  even  its  thriving  neighbour  has 
done;  for  in  the  year.  1700,  Liverpool  had  only  5714 
inhabitants. 

There  is  every  reason  to  suppose  that  at  the  next 
period  of  taking  a  census  of  the  kingdom,  the  popula- 


CURSORY  OBSERVATIONS.  87 

tion  of  Everton  will  be  nearly  double  what  it  was 
at  the  taking  of  the  last  census. 

Population,  1821— Liverpool,     Male  ...54,340  1 

Female  64,632  5  118'972 
In  1811  the  inhabitants  were 94,376 

In  1821— Everton,        Male...      760 1 

Female     1,349  >      2'10 
In  1811  the  inhabitants  were  only 913* 

In  1821— West  Derby,  Male  ...  2,6951 

Female     3,609$      6'304 
In  1811  the  inhabitants  were 3,718 

For  more  information  on  this,  and  other  statistical 
points,  some  tables,  and  many  notes  and  observations, 
are  given  in  the  Appendix. 

The  climate  of  Everton  is but  what  can  be  said 

of  it,  if  the  character  of  the  climate  of  Britain,  as 
described  by  a  Frenchman,  on  his  return  to  France, 
be  true  ?  "  What,"  asked  the  people  of  Paris  of 
the  travelled  Frenchman,  "is  the  climate  of  Britain  ?" 
"  Ma  foi !  "  replied  monsieur,  with  an  entire  shrug, 
and  a  semi-sliiver,  "  They  have  in  England  nine 
months  winter,  and  three  months  bad  weather,  in  one 
year."  The  reply  was  hyperbolical,  but  the  climate 
of  "  la  belle  France "  tempted  his  conscience  to 
suffer  his  tongue  to  take  some  liberties  with  truth:: 
but  if  the  climate  of  Britain  were  every  year  as  it  was 
in  the  year  1829,  the  Frenchman's  assertion  would 
not  be  at  variance  with  veracity. 

Lancashire  has  perhaps,  on  the  whole,  as  humid  an 

*  More  than  doubled. 


HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

atmosphere  as  any  English  county  whatever;  some 
parts  of  it  are  almost  proverbially  subject  to  rainy 
weather.  It  must  have  struck  another  Frenchman 
very  forcibly  that  Manchester  was  a  place  where 
rain  was  constantly  falling,  for,  after  an  absence  of 
some  two  years,  he  encountered  a  Manchester  ac- 
quaintance in  Paris,  and  accosted  him  in  the  following 
words ;  "  Pray,  sir,  has  it  left  off  raining  in  Man- 
chester yet  ?  " 

Everton,  of  course,  participates  in  the  atmospheric 
lot  which  providence  apportions  to  the  county  it  is 
seated  in;  it  must,  however,  be  taken  into  conside- 
ration, that  the  local  situation  of  Everton  gives  it 
some  advantages,  but,  as  all  things  in  nature  are  of 
a  mixed  character,  that  which,  in  a  great  measure, 
renders  Everton  so  delightful  at  most  times,  causes 
it  to  labour  under  disadvantages  in  certain  seasons. 

Everton  is  tolerably  elevated  above  the  level  of  the 
sea,  near  to  which  it  stands,  and  being  unsheltered, 
is  consequently  exposed  to  fierce  storms.  In  severe 
winters,  and  inclement  periods,  the  air  of  Everton  is 
cold,  keen,  and  piercing;  but  when  the  north  and 
the  north-west  winds  blow  with  gentle,  or  only  mode- 
rate force,  the  climate  of  Everton  is  as  salubrious  as 
that  of  the  ocean  itself;  then,  indeed,  the  sea-breezes, 
in  wholesome  purity,  waft  themselves  through  and 
over  the  whole  township.  At  such  times,  no  bane- 
ful effluvia,  or  smoky  vapours,  are  conveyed  from 
Liverpool,  by  the  passing  breeze,  to  any  part  of 
Everton. 


CURSORY  OBSERVATIONS.  89 

It  sometimes  happens,  in  the  winter  months,  when 
the  north  and  west  gales  travel  with  the  hurricane's 
velocity  and  violence,  that  the  winds  from  the  sea  are 
unwelcome  visitors;  and,  owing  to  the  unsheltered 
situation  of  Everton,  it  is  not  unfrequently  ravaged 
hy  those  tempests  of  the  ocean,  from  which  the  town- 
ship has  sustained  much  damage.  Some  serious 
disasters,  losses,  and  fatal  accidents  have  occurred 
from  these  circumstances,  at  several  periods,  which 
will  be  noticed  in  other  parts  of  this  work. 

Taking,  however,  the  aggregate  of  times  and  sea- 
sons into  due  estimation,  the  climate  of  Everton 
may  be  denominated  bracing  and  salubrious;  it 
may  perhaps  be  too  sharp  and  keen  for  delicate  con- 
stitutions, or  for  invalids  whose  strength  may  be 
prostrated,  or  for  systems  excessively  shattered,  but  it 
is  admirably  adapted  for  all  who  may  require,  or  will 
venture  to  place  themselves  in,  a  bracing  atmospheric 
bath;  indeed,  it  may  be  safely  said,  that  those  who 
may  be  temporarily  unwell,  cannot  reside  in  a  more 
desirable  place.  Such  persons  have  every  chance  of 
finding  the  climate  of  Everton  an  excellent  and  seldom- 
failing  antidote  to  disease ;  for,  except  when  the  south- 
west Avinds  blow,  if  pure  air  be  near,  it  will,  of  a 
certainty,  be  brought  to  Everton. 

On  the  whole,  making  the  required  distinction  of 
elevated  situation,  the  climate  of  Everton  closely  assi- 
milates to  that  of  Liverpool ;  the  reader  is,  therefore, 
referred  to  the  very  scientific  work  of  Dr.  Dobson,  a 


90  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

late  inhabitant  of  Liverpool ;  and  to  a  more  modern 
publication,  entitled  "  A  Familiar  Medical  Survey  of 
Liverpool." 

There  is  an  advantage  which  presents  itself,  of  con- 
siderable importance,  in  estimating  the  value  of  Ever- 
ton  as  a  place  of  residence,  namely,  its  desirable 
distance  from,  yet  convenient  proximity  to  Liverpool, 
where  the  necessaries,  conveniences,  and  luxuries 
of  life  abound. 

Thus,  the  very  situation  affords  a  temptation,  nay 
creates  a  necessity,  for  exercise.  From  their  resi- 
dences at  Everton,  men  of  business  proceed  daily  to 
their  affairs  in  Liverpool,  arid  the  fair  sex  frequently 
visit  the  well  supplied  markets  and  excellently  stored 
magazines  of  that  great  commercial  town;  from  the 
first  of  which  the  larder  and  store-room  are  amply 
replenished,  whilst  the  latter  gratify  the  eye,  furnish 
adornment  for  the  person  or  the  mind  of  the  lovely 
fair  ones  who  visit  these  tempting  repositories  of 
useful,  fashionable,  elegant,  and  tastefully  displayed 
commodities,  many  of  which  are  indispensable  to  gen- 
teel life. 

Many  a  fair  daughter  of  Everton  owes  much  of  the 
hue  of  health  and  ruddy  beauty  she  now  enjoys,  to 
the  excursions  she  has  taken,  over  and  over  again,  to 
the  neighbouring  town ;  but  it  must  be  granted,  that 
she  is  more  particularly  indebted  to  her  strolls  in  the 
pure  air  of  Everton,  and  its  vicinage ;  where  she  can 
enjoy  the  most  charming  prospects,  or  indulge  in 


CURSORY  OBSERVATIONS.  91 

pleasing  ruminations  or  reminiscences,  in  the  rural 
privacies  of  shaded  and  retired  roads,  or  inhale 
fragrant  odours  in  well-trimmed  lawns,  picturesque 
pleasure-grounds,  or  well-stored  gardens :  pale,  per- 
haps, had  been  her  cheek,  and  pallid  her  now  ruby 
lip,  had  fate  immured  her  in  a  close,  pent-up  cham- 
ber, in  one  of  the  narrow  streets  or  thorough  fares  of 
Liverpool. 

Sheltered  by  the  crest  of  the  hill,  the  western  plain 
of  Everton,  and  the  slope  of  its  brow,  afford,  in  the 
winter  season  particularly,  delightful  sites  for  places 
of  residence,  whose  inmates  can  be  little  inconve- 
nienced by  the  visitation  of  piercing,  inclement  easterly 
winds ;  but  when  in  winter  the  north  and  east  winds 
prevail,  the  summit  of  the  hill,  and  the  north  and  east 
parts  of  Everton,  are  somewhat  bleak  and  cold,  nor 
is  it  probable  that  art  can  materially  alter  them. 
These  circumstances  are  thus  pointedly  set  forth,  with 
a  view  to  guide  those  persons  who  may  be  desirous  of 
domiciling  themselves  at  Everton,  as  to  the  spots  most 
likely  to  suit  their  respective  constitutions ;  but,  after 
all,  it  must  be  granted,  that  during  a  great  portion  of 
the  year,  the  eastern  parts  of  Everton  are  delightful — 
and  as  a  whole  form  a  most  charming  region;  for, 
during  the  summer  and  autumnal  months,  they  may 
be  said  to  compose  a  spot  of  real  rural  beauty. 

As  to  the  summit  of  the  hill,  its  western  prospects 
are  so  grand,  extensive,  and  variegated,  that  they 
tempt  even  the  timid  and  the  delicate  to  dwell  on  its 


92  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

exposed  situation ;  and  there  they  brave  the  winter's 
storms  and  inclemencies ;  hope  still  reminding  them 
of  summer's  coming  advantages,  beauties,  and  delights. 

A  short  walk,  of  only  a  few  minutes'  duration,  takes 
a  pedestrian  from  Liverpool's  busy  and  bustling 
scenes  into  a  modern  Arcadia,  where,  gradually,  the 
hum  of  human  toil  is  lost,  and  is  exchanged  for  that 
of  the  busy  bee,  and  the  sparrow's  merry  chirp ;  then 
it  is,  that,  having  escaped  the  hoarse,  croaking  cries  of 
venders  of  wares,  the  vehicles  of  trade,  and  the  con- 
verse-killing rattle  and  noise  of  the  carts  of  commerce, 
as  he  journeys  into  Everton,  his  ears  are  greeted 
and  delighted  at  every  step,  with  sweet  notes,  gratui- 
tously offered,  by  the  "  cheerful  songsters  of  the 
grove  " — songsters,  which  can  charm  and  delight  the 
natural  ear  much  more  than  can  the  artificial  capa- 
bilities of  a  Sontag,  or  a  Catalani.  To  people  pro- 
ceeding from  Liverpool  into  Everton,  the  suddenness 
of  this  change  of  scene,  and  the  exliilarating  effects 
of  meliorated  air,  seem  almost  the  effect  of  magic ; 
therefore,  with  natural  zest  and  gotit,  the  inhabitants 
of  Liverpool  seem  to  enjoy  their  visits  to  one  of 
Britain's  most  charming  villages. 

On  Sundays,  and  kept  holidays,  the  roads  and 
avenues  which  lead  to  and  from  Everton,  are  much 
thronged  with  visitors,  drest  in  their  best,  inhaling 
large  and  refreshing  draughts  of  pure  air,  and  feast- 
ing their  eyes  with  delightful  views,  both  sea-ward 
and  land-ward.  But  the  number  of  visitors  has  latterly 


CURSORY  OBSERVATIONS.  93 

been  much  diminished,  chiefly  in  consequence  of  the 
safety  and  cheapness  of  conveyance  hy  steam  vessels, 
which  tempt  many  of  the  former  visitants  of  Everton, 
whenever  they  can  temporarily  leave  the  dense  and 
murky  atmosphere  of  their  gigantic  and  still  encreas- 
ing  town,  to  cross  the  river  Mersey,  to  view  and  ramble 
over  the  verdant  grounds  of  Cheshire,  on  the  oppo- 
site, inviting  shore. 


SECTION  V. 


TENURES  OF  PROPERTY. 


To  search  into  the  tenures  of  landed  property,  from 
their  sources  down  to  these  times  of  secure-holding, 
must  be  deemed  a  satisfactory  enquiry  by  all  those 
who  study,  or  take  pleasure  in  marking,  the  progress 
of  the  laws  which  govern  and  protect  our  social 
interests.  Such  study,  or  enquiry,  equally  regards 
and  applies  to  the  history  of  Everton's  soil,  as  to 
those  of  the  greatest  and  proudest  empires.  It  is  this 
apparent  necessity  which  has  impelled  or  induced  the 
presentation  of  the  following  preliminary  dissertation 
on  the  origin  of  present  and  past  tenures,  under 
which  the  lauds  of  Everton  are  and  have  been 
long  held. 

Of  the  tenures  under  which  the  lands  of  Britain 
were  held,  prior  to  the  Saxon  conquest  and  rule, 
little  or  nothing  is  known :  the  Saxons,  however,  par- 
celled out  among  themselves  into  allotments  the  lands 
of  the  conquered  British  provinces ;  each  monarch  of 
the  heptarchy  distributing  to  respective  chiefs,  ac- 
cording to  their  rank,  or  desert,  or  to  the  favour  in 
which  they  were  held.  It  was  then  that  the  Saxon 


TENURES  OF  PROPERTY.  95 

leaders,  or  chief  men,  seated  themselves  on  portions 
of  their  own  soil,  and  in  time  became  peaceable 
agriculturalists,  exercising  a  lord's  right  over  their 
vassals,  labourers,  and  shepherds — the  aborigines  of 
Britain,  and  the  lower  grades  of  their  own  coun- 
trymen. 

It  was  then  and  thus  that  the  first  known  appor- 
tionments of  lands  were  made  to  individuals,  and 
became  the  property  of  subjects  of  the  realm  or  realms 
of  the  heptarchy  in  Britain.  "  Then  also  originated 
our  manors,  villages,  and  townships ;  not  their  pre- 
cise names,  it  is  true,  but  their  customs,  rights,  and 
tenures;  which,  having  commenced  in  the  earliest 
existence  of  Northumbria,  still  subsist,  with  little 
alteration  but  in  the  orthography  of  their  names,  and 
gradual  extension  of  cultivation." 

After  the  Norman  conquest,  William  the  Conqueror 
arbitrarily  dispossessed  most  of  the  chief  Anglo-Saxon 
proprietors  of  the  soil,  and  granted  to  his  own  chiefs, 
favourites,  and  followers  large  divisions  of  territory, 
even,  in  some  cases,  to  the  extent  of  whole  hundreds, 
and  many  townships  and  villages,  to  a  single  indi- 
vidual. Immediately  after  the  conquest,  the  township 
of  Everton  was  held  under  those  lords,  in  whom, 
from  time  to  time,  the  possession  of  the  honour,  or 
barony,  of  Lancaster  was  vested,  and  who  had 
themselves  to  render  satisfaction  to  the  crown,  ac- 
cording to  certain  terms,  under  the  performance  of 
which  they  held  sub-dominion  over  their  respective 
territories.  Historians  are  generally  agreed,  that  at 


06  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

or  about  this  period,  lands  were  made  hereditary  to 
sub-proprietors,  on  conditions  that  required,  in  most 
cases,  a  knight's  service  for  a  certain  stipulated 
portion  of  land.  The  nobles  possessed  extensive 
domains,  which  were  divided  into  fees,  each  fee  to 
furnish  a  knight  for  the  king,  or  for  the  superior. 
The  knights  thus  furnished  fought  on  horseback,  and 
were  armed  with  sword,  lance,  and  shield :  it  is  said 
that  for  five  hides  of  land  the  lord  was  bound  to  fur- 
nish the  service  of  a  knight. 

As  time  rolled  on,  wealth  and  effeminacy  encreased, 
and  fines,  in  money  and  goods,  were  offered  and  ac- 
cepted in  lieu  of  furnishing  and  equipping  a  knight ; 
thus  were  established,  what  are  now  called  rents,  and 
rent  became  the  parent  of  taxation.  But  it  would  lead 
too  far  to  give  more  of  the  history  of  taxation,  than 
that  it  took  its  rise  from  this  composition,  or  rent  of 
money,  &c.  in  lieu  of  knight's  service.  Still,  how- 
ever, much  of  the  arbitrary  leaven  of  the  feudal 
system  remained,  under  the  operation  of  which  sub- 
proprietors  continued  to  be  much  annoyed ;  and  thus 
matters  continued,  until  Magna  Charta  established 
and  secured  the  rights  of  individuals  to  all  justly  ac- 
quired property. 

Although  much  of  the  soil  of  Everton  is  held 
under  a  tenure  which  had  its  origin  in  feudal  times, 
yet  so  admirably  are  those  reliques  of  rude  days 
environed  by  the  laws  of  the  constitution,  that  copy- 
hold possessions,  save  in  their  disability  to  work 
mines  for  salt,  and  in  some  instances  to  fell  timber 


TENURES  OF  PROPERTY.  97 

for  sale,*  and  the  inconveniences  of  a  few  set  forma- 
lities, which  will  be  noticed  hereafter,  are  as  secure 
and  eligible,  and  in  many  respects  more  so,  than  any 
other  tenures  in  the  kingdom.  Thus  is  the  know- 
ledge gathered  that,  in  ancient  times,  and  down  to 
the  happy  and  glorious  establishment  oiMagna  Charta, 
kings,  at  pleasure,  granted  and  gave  lands,  and  at 
pleasure  dispossessed  the  lord  of  his  manor.  Grants 
of  land  were  then  issued,  and  frequently  recalled  or 
revoked,  at  the  sovereign's  will;  but  the  barons  of 
England,  in  King  John's  day,  established  the  right 
to  hold  their  estates  independent  of  every  power  but 
that  of  the  law.  Lords  of  manors  became  independent 
proprietors ;  they  regulated  and  adjusted  matters  with 
their  tenantry,  free  of  regal  interference,  according  to 
established  rules  and  customs ;  and  they  admitted  the 
rights  of  their  copyholders  to  be  as  secure  and  valid 
as  their  own,  liable  only  to  such  forfeiture  and  bereave- 
ment as  manorial  customs,  and  the  laws  of  the  land, 
had  ordained.  Since  then,  the  lands  of  Everton  have 
been  granted  to  copyholders,  or  old  grants  sanctioned 
and  continued,  under  easy,  nay  almost  insignificant, 
terms  of  suit,  service,  fine,  and  rent;  and  the 
copyhold  estates  of  Everton  have  descended,  and 
continue  to  descend,  according  to  the  ordinary  rules 
of  consanguinity,  or  bequest,  as  the  statutes  direct, 
without  the  lord  of  the  manor  having  power  to 


*  A  copy  of  the  customs  of  the  manor  of  West  Derby  (and  of  Everton) 
is  given  in  the  Appendix,  in  which  it  will  be  perceived  that  copyholders 
of  those  manors  may  "fell  and  sell  wood  and  underwood." 

H 


98  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

oppose,  with  any  hope  of  success,  such  equitable  and 
just  appropriation  of  reversions. 

The  superior  tenures,  under  which  the  lands  of 
Everton  are  held,  are  those  which,  in  common  par- 
lance, are  termed  freehold,  copyhold  of  inheritance,* 
and  leasehold.  The  last-named  term  is  limited  to 
lands  which  are  held  under  a  lease,  granted  in  1716, 
by  the  lord  (and  lady)  of  the  manor,  for  1000  years. 
Inferior,  or  sub-tenures,  are  those  of  leases  for  lives, 
of  various  terms  of  time,  and  very  many  of  yearly 
lettings.  It  should  be  generally  known,  and  borne 
well  in  mind,  that  in  strictness,  according  to  the  cus- 
tom of  most  manors,  no  copyholders  of  inheritance  or 
otherwise  can  lease  their  copyholds  to  any  under- 
tenant for  a  longer  period  than  one  year,  without 
license  being  first  obtained  of  the  lord  of  the  manor. 

The  tenure  of  freehold  or  fee-simple  is  well  and 
sufficiently  known.  As  to  the  Everton  freeholds,  they 
were  originally  copyholds,  or  waste  lands,  enfranchised 
by  purchase  or  otherwise  of  lords  of  the  manor. 

Of  the  freeholds,  then,  and  the  inferior  tenures  of 
Everton,  it  is  not  intended  now  to  treat ;  but  of  the 
copyhold  tenures,  and  those  of  the  lease  for  1000 
years,  notice  at  large  will  be  taken.  As  there  are 
many  persons  who  have  no  other  idea  of  copyhold 
tenures  than  that  they  are  common,  yet  good  titles, 
it  is  deemed  proper  to  go  somewhat  at  length  into  the 

*  There  are  a  few  patches  of  land  in  Everton  that  are  said  to  be  held 
under  copyhold  tenure  for  1000  years,  such  as  25,  a,  b,  c,  and  d,  and 
34,  b,  and  c. 


TENURES  OF  PROPERTY.  99 

nature  of  such  tenures,  and  of  the  practice  of  the 
manor  court,  or  halmote  court,  of  the  Marquis  of 
Salisbury:  at  the  same  time  it  must  be  distinctly 
understood,  that  what  is  about  to  be  stated,  has  not 
been  drawn  up  by  one  who  is  of  the  profession  of  the 
law,  and  therefore,  though  these  observations  may 
give  a  tolerable  insight  into  the  subject,  they  must 
not  lead  to  any  determination  in  nice,  critical,  and 
disputed  points  which  may  arise  on  copyhold  ques- 
tions. 

In  ordinary  cases,  there  are  no  better  tenures  than 
those  of  copyhold ;  the  titles  of  such  pass  from  pos- 
sessor to  possessor,  after  being  prepared  and  examined 
by  the  steward  of  the  manor,  and  by  the  decision  of  a 
jury,  whose  duty  it  is,  under  the  steward's  guidance, 
to  see  that  the  surrenders  which  have  to  pass  under 
their  verdict  be  correct.  This  open,  public,  and 
clear  manner  of  registering,  or  enrolling,  tranfers  of 
copyhold  (be  such  transfers  of  bargain,  demise,  or 
mortgage)  gives  a  great  degree  of  security  to  such 
transactions.  It  is  true,  fraud  may  occasionally  occur, 
and  copyhold  transfers  be  at  times  erroneously  made  $ 
but  to  such  disadvantages  all  transfers  of  freeholds 
and  leaseholds  are  liable,  and  in  a  higher  degree  than 
those  of  copyholds.  A  copyholder  cannot  mortgage 
his  copyhold,  without  giving  the  act  publicity;  and 
this  publicity  is  advantageous  to  the  community,  for 
no  second,  or  subsequent  mortgage  can  be  taken 
privily;  but  on  freeholds  and  leaseholds,  what  are 


100  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

termed  second  mortgages  have  been  privily  taken,  and 
to  the  injury  of  second  mortgagees. 

The  law  sanctions  and  sustains  manorial  customs, 
as  to  the  lord  and  the  copyholder ;  but  in  cases  where  a 
stranger  may  be  concerned,  the  law  is  paramount,  and 
overrules  custom :  for  instance,  in  a  case,  "  where  a 
copyholder  leased  his  copyhold  contrary  to  the  custom 
of  the  manor;  yet  the  lease  was  good,  as  to  lessor 
and  lessee,  although  not  to  the  lord  of  the  manor." — 
Owen  1 7.  Downingham's  case.  But  in  such  cases, 
it  is  presumed,  the  lord  could  levy  fine  on  the  copy- 
holder. Copyholders  will,  therefore,  do  well  to  avoid 
the  penalty,  by  conforming  to  the  customs  of  the 
court  baron.* 

The  copyholders  of  Everton,  as  has  been  already 
noticed,  hold  their  copyholds  under  the  lord  of  the 
manor,  and  to  him  they  are  bound  as  to  suit  and 
service,  which,  in  reality,  are  but  light  obligations; 
to  him,  or  to  his  representative,  they  have  also  to  pay 
certain  fixed  rents,  of  very  insignificant  amount. 
Those  rents,  however,  trifling  as  they  are,  ought  to 
be  paid  annually  and  regularly;  for,  although  they 
may  not  be  demanded  for  a  number  of  years  by  the 
lord's  steward,  they  are  never  entirely  lost  sight  of, 
and  the  time  always  arrives  when,  at  some  transfer  of 


*  In  the  Appendix  will  be  found  a  copy  of  the  customs  of  the  manor 
of  West  Derby,  which  are  also  the  customs  of  Everton ;  and  there  also 
will  be  found  copious  extracts  touching  on  manors,  courts  baron,  copy- 
holds, &c. 


TENURES  OF  PROPERTY.  101 

the  property,  those  rents,  together  with  all  small  items 
of  fines  and  forfeitures  in  arrear,  are  demanded  and 
paid.  The  main  part  of  those  fines  and  forfeitures 
arises  from  neglect  and  irregularity  in  the  payment  of 
rent,  and  from  failure  in  attendance  to  perform  suit 
and  sendee ;  the  amount,  however,  of  the  whole  sum, 
for  rent,  suit,  service,  fines,  and  forfeitures,  it  is  again 
repeated,  is  insignificant. 

The  appearance  of  the  Everton  copyholder  is  due 
at  the  lord's  halmote  court,  once  at  least  annually, 
and  if  not  oheyed  or  performed,  a  fine  is  incurred, 
trivial,  it  is  true,  and  seldom  demanded,  until,  accu- 
mulating for  a  number  of  years,  the  whole  amount 
of  the  fines  becomes  worthy  of  notice,  and  is,  as 
before  stated  in  the  case  of  rent,  demanded  and  paid. 
The  custom  is,  for  the  lord  of  the  manors  of  West 
Derby,  Everton,  &c.,  to  hold  a  court  annually  by  his 
steward,  on  some  given  day  in  Whitsun-week,  in  a 
small  building  at  West  Derby  :  this  building  is  called 
the  "  Court-house ; "  it  is  an  old,  but  still  strong, 
stone  erection,  and,  in  appearance,  little  better  than  a 
larger  kind  of  cottage ;  its  interior  is  kept  clean,  and 
fitted  up  in  the  plainest  manner;  not  a  vestige  of 
decoration  or  ornament,  either  within  or  without,  does 
it  possess ;  nor  has  any  attention  been  bestowed  on 
its  internal  conveniences,  beyond  what  the  business  to 
be  transacted  within  its  walls  absolutely  required ;  in 
fine,  it  is  more  in  keeping  with  what  such  places  were 
centuries  ago,  than  with  public  buildings  of  this  age 
of  improvement  and  taste.  Were  the  lord  of  the 


102  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

manor's  arms  placed  in  some  conspicuous  part  of  the 
interior  of  the  court-house,  they  would  form  an  appro- 
priate embellishment ;  and  particularly  so,  when  it  is 
considered  that  coats  of  arms,  and  also  copyhold 
courts,  owe  their  origin  to  the  feudal  system. 

Separated  from  the  main  apartment  of  the  court- 
house, is  a  small  closet,  in  which,  it  is  said,  the  records 
and  other  documents  of  these  manors  are  deposited. 

It  may  be  necessary  to  explain  why  the  manorial 
affairs  of  Everton  are  transacted  in  the  same  court, 
and  at  the  same  time,  with  the  business  of  other  adja- 
cent manors ;  the  explanation  will  be  best  given  in  a 
concise  quotation  from  an  able  treatise  on  copyhold 
tenures.  "  The  court  baron,  as  well  as  the  customary 
and  copyhold  court,  must  be  held  within  its  own 
manor;  but,  if  a  lord  be  seized  of  two  or  more  manors, 
then,  by  custom,  courts  may  be  held  upon  one  for  all:" 
— and  again,  it  is  worthy  of  notice,  that  "  in  ancient 
times  the  tenants  were  all  bound  to  attend  these 
courts,  or  suffer  mulct ;  nor  were  they  allowed  to  sit, 
but  were  constrained  to  remain  standing  and  bare- 
headed" 

The  affairs,  therefore,  of  all  the  manors  in  this  vici- 
nage, of  which  the  Marquis  of  Salisbury  is  the  lord, 
are  transacted  together  in  the  court-house  at  West 
Derby  annually,  on  one  set  day,  at  Whitsuntide  \ 
but  adjournments  are  announced,  from  period  to 
period ;  and  on  special  occasions,  courts  are  frequently 
held,  or,  as  it  is  termed,  " courts  are  called"  at  other 
place  and  places  than  the  court-house  of  West  Derby. 


TENURES  OF  PROPERTY.  103 

The  calling  of  an  extra  or  special  court  is  resorted  to, 
when  business  occurs  that  cannot  be  delayed  until  the 
regular,  annual,  or  Whitsuntide  courts  are  held :  but 
it  is  laid  down  in  some  law  books  that  a  court  baron 
cannot  be  held,  until  three  weeks  may  have  elapsed 
from  the  holding  of  a  previous  court  baron  of  and  for 
the  same  manor. 

So  indifferent,  or  so  ignorant,  are  many  of  the  copy- 
holders of  Everton,  and  of  other  places,  of  their  liabi- 
lity to  attend  the  lord  of  the  manor's  regular  annual 
courts,  that  it  seldom  happens  a  sufficient  number  of 
copyholders  would  be  likely  to  appear  as  would  form 
a  competent  jury  to  transact  the  routine  business, 
were  not  the  bailiff  to  issue  summonses,  or  invita- 
tions, to  a  certain  number  of  copyholders,  whose 
inclination  or  leisure  may  suffer  them,  without  much 
inconvenience,  to  attend;  and  even  after  such  pre- 
cautionary step  has  been  taken,  it  sometimes  occurs 
(as  it  did  in  the  year  1828,*)  that  a  jury  is  with 
difficulty  formed.  After  the  jurymen  are  sworn,  the 
business  of  the  court  commences ;  all  the  lord's  copy- 
holders are  called  over  by  name,  a  service  which  the 
steward  himself  performs,  who  presides  in  the  court 
as  the  lord's  representative.  The  names  of  the  copy- 
holders are  twice  called  over,  lest  some  who  were 
absentees  during  the  first  summons,  might  have  made 
their  appearance  before  it  was  brought  to  a  close. 

»  The  business  of  the  court  had  not  been  entered  upon  through  lack  of 
jurymen,  when  casually,  out  of  curiosity,  the  writer  of  this  visited  the 
court, — he  was  impressed  into  service, — and  business  progressed. 


104  HISTORY  OF  EVEKTON. 

Those  copyholders  who  appear  are  not  fined,  and 
many  absentees  make  a  saving  in  their  mulct,  by 
employing  persons  to  pay  the  small  demand  of  four- 
pence  for  each  of  their  copyholds,  as  their  names  are 
called.  Some  other  minute  forms  are  used  and  ob- 
served, touching  the  lord's  rights  and  privileges,  of 
which  it  is  not  intended  to  go  into  details ;  it  may, 
however,  be  proper  to  notice  that  many,  if  not  all,  of 
the  minor  forms  of  this  court  would,  in  all  likelihood, 
be  neglected,  and  by  disuse  become  entirely  extinct, 
did  not  weightier  considerations,  with  which  they  are 
connected,  lie  behind ;  of  which  more  hereafter. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  or  holding  of  the  lord's 
court,  the  completion  of  surrender  and  transfer  is 
effected  by  the  verdict  of  juries,  touching  inheritance, 
sale,  exchange,  or  mortgage  of  copyhold  property. 
The  process  consists  in  making  a  formal  surrender 
(but  which  in  reality  is  only  a  matter  of  form)  by  the 
grantor  to  the  lord  of  the  manor,  who  instanter  (with- 
out veto)  passes  all  premises,  so  surrendered,  to  the 
grantee;  whereby  the  grantee  is  invested  with  all 
benefit  of  property  so  passed,  under  restraint  only  of 
the  custom  of  the  manor,  as  to  suit,  service,  and  rent, 
and  with  permission  to  use  and  employ  for  ever  such 
passed  property  as  to  him,  the  grantee,  and  his  suc- 
cessors, may  seem  most  advantageous — working  of 
mines  for  sale,  only  excepted.  As  regards  working 
of  mines,  the  following  extract  from  a  judge's  charge 
to  a  jury,  in  a  cause  lately  tried,  will  serve  to  give  an 
insight  into  the  law  of  exemption,  or  the  lack  of  right 


TENURES  OF   PROPERTY.  105 

in  copyholders  to  work  without  license,  or  to  their 
own  benefit,  mines  which  may  exist  even  in  their  own 
copyholds.  "  Mines  lying  under  most,  if  not  all,  the 
copyhold  tenements  in  the  north  of  England,  belong 
to  the  lord  of  the  manor,  but  the  lord  is  obliged  to 
make  an  agreement  with  the  tenant  to  allow  him  to 
enter  his  land ;  for  if  they  come  to  no  agreement,  the 
minerals  must  remain  unraised." — Stowe  versus  Bren- 
ton;  Court  of  Bang's  Bench,  26th  November,  1828. 

It  is  only  a  just  and  deserved  tribute  of  praise 
paid  to  the  conduct  of  the  present  steward  to  the  lord 
of  the  manors  of  West  Derby,  Everton,  &c. — the  very 
worthy  John  S.  Leigh,  Esq. — to  say  that  his  bland  and 
gentlemanly  manners  win  him  the  respect  and  esteem 
of  every  copyholder  who  has  to  attend  at  the  manorial 
courts,  and  indeed  of  all  with  whom  he  has  inter- 
course, whether  in  matters  of  business,  or  in  the  more 
grateful  performances  of  the  duties  of  the  social  com- 
pact. 

The  copyholders  of  the  west  parts  of  Everton  will 
be  likely,  very  shortly,  at  each  transfer  of  their  copy- 
holds, to  find  a  serious  disadvantage  in  their  liability 
to  go  through  the  manor-courts'  customary  forms ; 
and  also,  in  the  increased  expense  incurred  at  the 
calling  of  extra,  or  special  courts;  to  which  may  be 
added  other  charges,  in  the  shape  of  fees,  &c.  to  the 
officers,  jurors,  &c.  of  such  courts  :  nor  is  it  a  slight 
disadvantage  that  the  parties  bargaining  cannot  select 
their  own  lawyers  to  draw  up  the  needful  deeds,  that 
business  being  invariably  performed  by  the  steward, 


106  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

who  is  always  (now-a-days  at  least)  a  gentleman  of 
the  law;  consequently,  if  any  other  lawyer  be  em- 
ployed, together  with  the  steward,  the  fees  and 
charges  are  materially  enhanced. 

This  is  not  of  so  much  consideration  when  the 
transfer  of  property  is  of  magnitude;  but  the  prox- 
imity of  Everton  to  Liverpool  has  already  caused, 
and  will  hereafter  much  more  frequently  cause,  many 
of  the  copyholds  of  Everton  to  be  sub-divided  and 
portioned  into  numberless  building  lots,  and  minute 
patches,  all  and  every  separately  owned  lot  of  which 
has  to  go  through  the  same  forms  of  transfer  as  the 
most  extensive  copyhold  property  in  the  township: 
it  is  therefore  the  interest  of  every  copyholder  to  have 
his  copyhold  enfranchised ;  for,  at  the  ratio  in  which 
Liverpool  is  encreasing,  the  surface  of  its  soil  will  soon 
be  covered  with  edifices,  or  appropriated  to  the  uses  of 
trade  and  manufacture;  and,  as  a  natural  consequence, 
Everton  (and  particularly  its  western  parts)  will  also 
be  covered  with  buildings,  or  parcelled  out  into  minute 
subdivisions  and  allotments,  for  commercial  and  general 
purposes. 

A  most  excellent  alteration  of  the  law  touching 
copyhold  estates,  was  made  by  the  legislature  some  few 
years  ago :  it  was  formerly  necessary  for  each  copy- 
holder to  go  through  the  form  of  surrendering  his 
copyhold  to  the  lord  of  the  manor,  to  the  use  of  his  will; 
without  such  surrender,  as  the  law  stood,  a  testamentary 
bequest  of  any  such  copyholds,  as  those  of  Everton, 
was  inutile  and  invalid ;  therefore  copyholds,  so  cir- 


TENURES  OF  PROPERTY.  107 

cumstanced,  passed  into  possession  of  the  heir  at  law 
of  the  last  seized  copyholder,  notwithstanding  such 
last  seized  copyholder  had  bequeathed  the  copyhold 
to  any  other  person. 

The  obligation  to  make  surrender  to  the  use  of  a 
will,  led  to  no  other  advantage  than  that  of  throwing 
some  fees  and  emoluments  into  the  hands  of  the  officers 
of  manor  courts ;  the  law  was,  therefore,  very  wisely 
abrogated  by  a  special  act  of  parliament.  As  the 
law  now  stands,  copyholders  may  bequeath  their  copy- 
holds as  effectively  as  they  can  other  lands,  free  from 
the  ancient  obligation  of  surrendering  such  copyholds 
to  the  use  of  a  will. 

The  particulars  of  many  cases  of  hardship  which 
arose,  under  and  in  consequence  of  the  old  law,  might 
be  adduced.  It  is  only  a  few  years  since,  that  a  gen- 
tleman died,  leaving  a  valuable  Everton  copyhold  to 
his  niece ;  but  a  surrender  to  the  use  of  his  will  had 
not  been  passed,  therefore  the  copyhold  fell  to  his 
brother,*  who,  being  an  honest,  honourable  man,  went 
instantly,  when  applied  to,  through  the  needful  forms 
to  make  the  copyhold  the  property  of  the  individual 
to  whom  his  brother  had  bequeathed  it.  The  world 
is  not  virtuous  enough  to  permit  it  to  be  said, — thus 
all  others  would  have  done. 

Having  treated  diffusely  on  the  copyhold,  atten- 
tion may  be  now  turned  to  the  leasehold,  tenures  of 
Everton. 

There  are  115  acres  of  land,  of  the  customary  mea- 

*  The  late  much  respected  Samuel  Johnson,  Esq. 


108  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

sure,  in  Everton,  held  under  lease  for  1000  years; 
which  lease  bears  date  3d  August,  1716,  and  was 
granted  by  the  trustees  of  Lady  Henrietta  Maria 
(daughter  and  heiress  of  William  George  Richard,  a 
late  Earl  of  Derby)  and  her  husband,  Lord  Ashburn- 
ham. 

As  it  may  afford  some  useful  information,  and 
exhibit  some  curious  facts,  a  concise  history  of  the 
St.  Domingo  estate  is  presented  to  the  reader's 
notice.  Such  procedure  will  also  shew  the  progres- 
sive advance  in  the  value  of  some  of  the  lands  of 
Everton  during  the  last  century,  and  up  to  the  present 
time ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  some  knowledge  will 
be  obtained  of  the  nature  and  conditions  of  the  lease 
itself. 

The  trustees  of  Henrietta  Maria,  the  wife  of  Lord 
Ashburnham,  and  only  surviving  daughter  and  heiress 
of  William  George  Richard,  a  late  Earl  of  Derby, 
jointly  with  the  said  Lord  and  Lady  Ashburnham, 
"in  consideration  of  the  sum  of  £115  paid  to  them, 
did  lease  to  J.  Seacome,  of  Liverpool,  H.  Halsall,  of 
Everton,  R.  Johnson,  of  Everton,  T.  Hayes,  of  Ever- 
ton, and  J.  Rose,  of  Thornton,  for  and  on  the  general 
behalf  of  the  copyholders  of  Everton,  one  hundred  and 
fifteen  acres  of  land  in  Everton,  of  the  measure  there 
used,  being  heretofore  in  three  divisions,  called  Hang- 
field,  Whitefield,  and  Netherfield,  and  being  then 
parts  of  wastes  or  commons,  called  Breck,  as  far  as 
the  commons  did  extend  themselves,  to  hold  the  said 
commons,  &c.,  for  the  term  of  1000  vears,  under  the 


TENURES  OF  PROPERTY.  109 

yearly  rent  of  £5  15s.,  payable  to  the  said  trustees, 
their  heirs,  &c.,  during  the  said  term." 

In  an  indenture,  dated  28th  July,  1724,  it  is  set 
forth,  that  the  several  owners  and  proprietors  (lessees 
and  copyholders)  of  the  before-named  lands  had 
separated  and  divided  their  several  parts,  and  upon 
such  partition,  H.  Halsall  had  apportioned  to  his 
share  25A.  2R.  26p.*  of  land;  the  land  is  described  at 
large  in  this  indenture,  which  identifies  some  of  the 
share  appropriated  to  H.  Halsall,  as  the  land  which 
afterwards  became  the  St.  Domingo  estate. 

Mr.  Halsall' s  family  remained  in  possession  of  this 
land  until  23d  August,  1757,  at  which  time  his 
family  sold  some  of  it  to  a  merchant  of  Liverpool, 
named  George  Campbell ;  on  the  2d  February,  1 758, 
Mr.  Campbell  purchased  other  land  from  the  afore- 
named J.  Seacome.  The  lands  thus  purchased  lay 
contiguous  to  each  other,  and  Mr.  Campbell,  after 
erecting  sundry  buildings,  and  otherwise  much  im- 
proving the  property,  gave  the  name  of  St.  Domingo 
to  the  consolidated  estate. 

In  the  year  1770  (Mr.  Campbell  being  dead),  a 
Mr.  John  Crosbie,  also  a  merchant  of  Liverpool,  con- 
tracted to  purchase  the  St.  Domingo  estate  for  £3800, 
and  paid  down  about  £680  in  part,  or  as  earnest,  of 
the  purchase;  but  Mr.  Crosbie  became  a  bankrupt, 
and  his  assignees  offered  his  interest  in  the  St. 
Domingo  estate  for  sale,  at  the  Pontack's  Inn,  in 
Liverpool,  but  no  bidder  appeared.  There  being  no 

*  In  some  documents  it  is  stated  that  II.  Halsall's  share  was  26A.OR.  19p. 


110  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

chance  of  profit  likely  to  accrue  to  Mr.  Crosbie's 
creditors  from  the  bargain  touching  the  St.  Domingo 
estate,  the  premises  were  conveyed  over,  on  the  terms 
at  which  Mr.  Crosbie  had  purchased  them,  unto 
Messrs.  Gregson,  Bridge,  and  Parke,  of  Liverpool, 
who,  in  addition  to  the  £680  paid  as  earnest  money 
by  Mr.  Crosbie,  paid  £3449  17s.,  making  £4129  17s. 
— that  is  to  say,  £3800  for  the  purchase,  and 
£329  17s.  for  interest  remaining  unpaid,  as  was 
stipulated  in  the  contract. 

In  the  conveyance  to  Messrs.  Gregson  and  Co., 
the  lands  of  the  St.  Domingo  estate  are  stated  to  be 
13A.  3R.  IP.  of  the  large  measure,  eight  yards  to  the 
perch  or  pole.  On  the  2d  February,  1773,  Messrs. 
Gregson  and  Co.  sold  the  St.  Domingo  estate  to  the 
late  John  Sparling,  Esq.,  a  merchant  of  Liverpool, 
for  £3470,  and  the  estate  remained  in  Mr.  Sparling's 
possession  to  the  time  of  his  decease,  which  took  place 
in  the  year  1800. 

There  are  some  remarkable  passages  relative  to 
this  St.  Domingo  estate  in  the  late  Mr.  Sparling's 
will ;  one  of  which  is  a  clause,  that  forbade  his  heirs 
to  let  or  dispose  of  the  St.  Domingo  property  for  any 
period  beyond  the  term  of  seven  years.  This  restric- 
tion did  not  meet  the  views  of  his  heirs,  and,  in  con- 
sequence of  general  and  unanimous  agreement  among 
themselves,  application  was  made  to  parliament  50th 
George  III.,  18th  April,  1810,  and  a  bill  was  obtained, 
to  empower  certain  trustees  to  dispose  of  the  St. 
Domingo  estate :  the  trustees  were,  however,  bound 


TENURES  OF  PROPERTY.  Ill 

by  clauses  of  the  said  act,  to  lay  out  the  proceeds  of 
the  sale  of  the  said  estate  in  some  secure  way,  so  as 
to  answer  all  the  trusts  of  the  late  Mr.  Sparling's 
will. 

When  application  was  made  to  parliament  for 
permission  to  sell  the  St.  Domingo  estate,  it  was 
stated  to  the  legislature,  that  although  certain  pur- 
chasers had  offered  to  give  £20,000  for  the  estate, 
yet  the  entire  rental  was  only  £395  10s.  ^  annum. 

In  the  year  1811,  the  trustees,  under  the  power 
granted  to  them  by  the  said  act  of  parliament,  sold 
the  St.  Domingo  estate,  in  parts,  to  William  Peat 
Litt,  Esq.  and  to  William  Ewart,  Esq.,  for  £20,295 ; 
in  the  same  year,  however,  Mr.  Ewart  became  the 
sole  proprietor;  and  on  the  13th  September,  1812, 
he  sold  the  whole  estate  to  the  commissioners  for  the 
affairs  of  barracks  for  £26,383  6s.  8d.  subject  to  14s. 
9d.  $-  annum,  the  proportion  of  lord's  rent.  »;)'*' 

The  estate  remained  in  the  possession  of  government 
for  some  time,  but  the  57th  Geo.  III.,  chap.  9,  em- 
powered the  commissioners  for  the  affairs  of  barracks, 
if  they  deemed  it  needful,  to  dispose  of  lands  previ- 
ously purchased  for  the  barrack  department.  In 
consequence  of  that  authority,  the  St.  Domingo  estate 
was  put  up  to  sale,  but  as  no  purchasers  appeared, 
the  property  was  divided  into  several  lots,  many  of 
which  have  been  sold.* 

There  is  reason  to  suppose  the  barrack  department 
will  not  be  gainers  in  the  transaction,  touching  the 

*  The  whole  has  been  sold— 1829. 


112  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

purchase  and  sale  of  the  St.  Domingo  estate;  but 
there  have  been  many  untoward  circumstances,  too 
numerous  to  bring  forward,  which  have  tended  to 
depreciate  the  property,  the  causes  of  which,  however, 
have  been  latterly,  and  are  still,  gradually  diminish- 
ing, nay,  it  may  be  stated,  have  now  pretty  nearly,  if 
not  altogether  ceased.  To  adduce  full  proof  of  such 
amendment  in  the  value  of  the  St.  Domingo  land, 
it  may  be  only  needful  to  state  that  some  land, 
which  once  belonged  to  the  St.  Domingo  estate  (a 
part,  too,  of  the  115  acres  before-named),  was  sold, 
the  day  previous  to  the  penning  of  this  paragraph,  in 
building  lots,  at  14s.  $•  square  yard,  or,  in  other 
words,  at  £3388  the  statute  acre — a  wonderful  con- 
trast to  the  value  of  the  same  land  in  the  year  1716, 
which  was  then  only  20s.  money  down,  and  Is.  $• 
annum  chief  rent,  $•  acre. 

There  are  some  circumstances  connected  with  the 
above-named  lease  for  1000  years,  which  are  worthy 
to  be  known,  and  therefore  the  following  brief  outline 
of  its  history  is  given. 

In  the  year  1714,  the  copyholders  of  Everton,  being 
desirous  of  enclosing  and  improving  the  commons,  or 
lands  which  lay  waste  in  their  township,  applied  to 
the  lord  (or  lady)  of  the  manor,  to  have  the  said 
lands  leased  to  them  for  a  certain  long  period  of 
years;  and  their  request  being  favourably  received, 
a  contract  was  entered  into  by  and  between  the  said 
lord  of  the  manor,  together  with  the  trustees  of  his 
lady,  and  a  deputation  of  the  said  copyholders  of 


TENURES  OF  PROPERTY.  113 

Everton;  the  conditions  of  which  contract  were 
effected  and  completed  to  the  satisfaction  of  both  the 
contracting  parties,  on  the  3d  August,  1716, — on 
which  day  a  lease  of  115  acres  of  the  said  lands,  for 
1000  years,  was  formally  executed;  the  particulars 
of  which  have  heen  already  given  in  the  preceding 
pages  of  this  work. 

Soon  after  procuring  the  said  lease,  the  copyholders 
of  Everton  proceeded  to  divide  and  apportion  the 
lands  so  leased  among  themselves ;  all  the  copyholders 
having  allotted  unto  them  a  proportion  of  the  leased 
lands  according  to  the  extent  of  their  respective  copy- 
holds  ;  and  it  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  the  full  mea- 
surement of  their  aggregate  copyholds  differed  but  little 
in  the  whole  extent  from  that  of  the  measure  of  the 
commons  or  waste  lands  which  were  leased  for  1000 
years,  in  the  year  1716;  so  that  all  the  copyholders 
doubled  their  possessions  at  Everton,  at  a  cost  to  each 
of  them  on  their  respective  proportions  of  £1  $•  acre, 
money  down,  and  a  liability  to  pay  Is.  per  acre  per 
annum,  during  the  whole  term — the  whole  being  also 
liable  to  13s.  4d.  per  annum,  the  ancient  rent  paid  on 
the  commons. 

It  may  be  as  well  to  state  that,  by  an  excellent 
recent  arrangement,  the  aforesaid  lord's  rent,  and  also 
the  13s.  4d.  per  annum,  is  raised  by  and  paid  out  of 
the  rent  of  a  cottage,  which  was  erected  a  few  years 
ago,  together  with  a  pinfold  adjoining,  on  a  waste  spot 
of  land  near  the  border  or  bank  at  the  north-east 
corner  of  the  mere,  or  public  watering-place. 
'  i 


. 


114  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

As  the  copyholders  of  Everton  were  proceeding  in 
the  division  of  the  lands,  leased  as  aforesaid  for  1000 
years,  it  was  discovered  by  the  people  of  West  Derby, 
that  a  portion  thereof,  in  extent  about  16  acres, 
was  part  of  a  common  or  waste  of  West  Derby,  to 
which  the  copyholders  of  West  Derby  laid  claim. 
After  divers  disputes  and  debates,  certain  articles  were 
agreed  on  (which  may  be  found  in  the  Appendix), 
by  which  Everton  gave  to  West  Derby  5J  acres  in 
land,  and  paid  £20  per  acre  for  11  acres,  which 
the  tenants  of  Everton  had  enclosed,  agreeable  to  the 
division  of  the  lands  of  the  said  lease.  But  although 
the  tenants  (or  rather  the  copyholders)  of  Everton 
at  large,  bought  from  the  people  of  West  Derby  the 
advantages  of  the  said  11  acres  of  land,  for  and 
during  the  term  of  1000  years,  the  said  11  acres 
were  left  under  the  jurisdiction  of  West  Derby ;  and 
to  that  township  they  are  still  amenable,  in  regard  to 
tithes,  taxes,  &c. 

West  Derby  has  continued  to  pay  unto  Everton 
5s.*  annually,  which  sum  is  the  lord's  rent,  on  the 
5^  acres  of  land  which  were  ceded,  in  land,  to  West 
Derby,  and  which  5^  acres  are  part  of  and  included 
in  the  said  lease  of  1000  years — Everton  being  bound 
by  the  stipulations  of  that  lease,  for  the  entire  duration 
of  its  term,  to  pay  the  whole  chief  rent. 

The  original  lease,  together  with  the  articles  of 
agreement  between  the  copyholders  themselves,  and 
other  documents  relative  to  this  material  matter  touch- 

*  Should  be  5s.  l^d.  annually. 


TENURES  OF  PROPERTY. 


115 


ing  the  tenures  of  Everton, — the  lease  for  1000  years, 
— may  be  found  in  the  chest  of  the  township,  where 
they  are  carefully  preserved.  Copies  of  some  of  those 
documents  will  be  found  in  the  Appendix  to  this 
work.  Transfer-titles  to  this  leasehold  property  are 
made  in  the  usual  way  of  conveying  leaseholds,  free 
from  the  forms  and  customs  of  a  court  baron. 

Fancy  loves  to  take  long  looks  through  time's  tele- 
scope ;  and  it  is  certainly  a  spying  far  into  futurity, 
to  anticipate  the  probable  state  of  Everton  886  years 
hence :  but  if  Liverpool  continue  to  progress  as  now, 
and  should  rival  London  in  endurance  and  extent, 
what  a  valuable  estate  will  the  reversionary  inheritor 
have  of  the  lands  in  Everton,  when  the  lease  expires ! 
Upwards  of  200  statute  acres  of  Everton  land,  it  is 
probable,  will  then  be  closely  and  compactly  covered 
with  buildings,  of  a  town-like  character,  and  will 
yield  an  immense  revenue  to  the  heir  or  heirs  of  some 
fortunate  family. 


SECTION  VI. 


A  SKETCH 

OF  THE  MANNERS,  CUSTOMS,  AND  HABITS  OF  THE  PAST  AND 
PRESENT  INHABITANTS  OF  EVERTON;  AND  OF  THEIR 
RECREATIVE  AND  OTHER  EMPLOYMENTS. 


READERS  of  the  present  day  may  deem  this  section 
prolix,  but  if  the  fragile  materials  of  which  it  is  com- 
posed should  attain  a  good  round  age,  the  minutia 
will  be  acceptable  to  people  who  may  then  exist.  Let 
it  be  asked,  if  a  minute  record  of  the  manners  and 
customs  of  centuries  ago  would  not  be  acceptable  and 
valuable  to  ourselves  ?  Taken,  then,  in  this  point  of 
view,  it  ought  to  stand  excused;  at  all  events,  the 
risk  is  incurred,  in  the  hope  that  the  censure  of  the 
living  may  be  slight,  and  the  record  prove  satisfactory 
and  useful  to  those  who  are  as  yet  in  embryo. 

Rude  and  barbarous  were  the  manners  and  customs 
of  the  aborigines  of  Everton ;  but  of  the  names  and 
nature  of  their  amusements,  pastimes,  and  general 
employments,  nothing  is  now  known ;  nor  can  any 
thing  be  satisfactorily  gathered  of  their  particular 
habits,  customs,  and  recreative  employments  during 


A  SKETCH.  117 

the  heptarchy,  or  even  for  many  centuries  after  that 
hydra-headed  government  ceased  to  rule  over  the 
people  of  England ;  nor  can  much  be  related  (at  least 
with  certainty  or  explicitness,)  of  their  manners  and 
recreations,  from  the  dissolution  of  the  heptarchy  down 
to  and  during  the  seventeenth  century;  for  nothing  has 
been  discovered  in  the  archives  of  the  township  which 
bears  on  these  points.  The  recollections  of  the  oldest 
now  living  only  serve  to  shew  the  usages  of  their  own 
times,  with  a  smattering  of  what  had  reached  their 
ears  in  their  younger  days,  of  the  particular  practices 
of  their  immediate  progenitors. 

Some  seventy  or  eighty  years  ago,  all  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Everton  were  plain  people,  owners  and  tillers 
of  land,  mixed  occasionally  with  affluent  and  other 
settlers,  who,  with  their  families,  had  retired  from 
trade,  to  rusticate,  and  enjoy  themselves  at  ease,  in 
the  salubrious  air,  the  rural  scenery,  and  the  then 
unsophisticated  society  of  Everton.  In  those  days, 
the  upper  classes  were  little  removed,  either  in  man- 
ners or  mode  of  life,  from  the  middling,  or  even  the 
humblest  class  of  beings  which  then  resided  in  the 
township  :  the  main  difference  between  the  aristocrats 
and  plebeians  lay  in  the  former  being  exonerated  from 
labour,  whilst  the  latter  were  necessitated  to  undergo 
its  fatigues.  The  table  of  the  wealthy  aristocrat  was 
daily  furnished  with  a  cup  of  nut-brown,  home-brewed 
ale ;  whilst  that  of  the  labourer  and  small  sub-tenant 
was  seldom  graced  with  other  beverage  than  what  the 
dairy,  the  pump,  or  the  well  afforded.  In  those  days, 


118  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

the  public  houses  were  open  to,  and  visited  by,  all 
ranks;  yet  the  working-man's  visits  were  then,  in 
general,  "  few  and  far  between ; "  but  the  landowners, 
and  other  opulent  persons,  seldom  suffered  a  night  to 
pass  without  congregating  at  one  or  both  of  the  public- 
houses  of  the  township.  It  is  true  that  in  those  days, 
as  now,  there  were  some  inveterate  sots  among  the 
lower  orders,  who  would  entrench  themselves  in  the 
midst  of  the  pewter-pots  of  an  alehouse,  and  remain 
drinking  whilst  a  maravedi  was  left  in  their  pouches, 
and  until  the  little  reason  they  once  possessed  was 
for  a  time  destroyed.  To  preach  against  such  prac- 
tices would  be  about  as  wise  as  the  attempt  to  raise 
the  voice  to  an  audible  pitch  during  a  thunder-storm. 
The  result  of  a  night's  debauch  with  the  old  lords  of 
the  soil  of  Everton,  was  seldom  more  than  a  next- 
morning-qualm,  or  muddled  head;  and,  like  old 
Toby  Philpot,  they  fared  well  daily,  gradually  grew 
fat,  and  could  afford  to  be  prodigal,  both  of  money 
and  time ;  but  a  poor  man  was  constantly  taught  that 
he  could  not  afford  to  waste  either. 

It  may  serve  as  a  specimen  of  the  manners,  and  of 
the  mental  attainments,  of  the  highest  class  of  society 
at  Everton,  some  eighty  years  ago,  to  give  a  descrip- 
tive outline  of  some  occurrences  which  took  place  at 
an  evening  meeting  of  the  nobles  of  the  township, 
mixed  with  some  of  their  boon  companions  of  Liver- 
pool, held  at  a  public-house,  which  in  those  days 
stood  near  the  late  beacon.  The  fumes  of  tobacco,  ale, 
and  taciturnity  were,  at  most  times,  the  principal  com- 


A  SKETCH.  119 

modities  to  be  met  with  at  these  meetings :  it  chanced 

however,  one  day,  that  a  certain  Thomas  o'th  H 's 

became  inspired  with  a  flow  of  eloquence ;  the  sub- 
ject is  immaterial,  the  speech  itself  being  lost  to 
posterity,  for,  at  the  epoch  of  these  events,  reporting 
had  not  been  invented;  the  force,  pith,  marrow,  and 

classical  beauties  of  Thomas  o'th  H 's  speech  are, 

consequently,  buried  in  tlie  sea  of  oblivion.  In  the 
heat  and  energy  of  his  peroration,  the  eloquent 

Thomas  o'th  H 's,   unfortunately   advanced  an 

assertion  which,  by  some  of  his  auditors,  was  deemed 
a  sin  against  veracity.  Now,  in  the  days  here  alluded 
to,  the  English  language  was  generally  spoken  at 
Everton  in  a  plain  and  unadorned  manner ;  contra- 
diction had  not  then  been  taught  politeness,  negation 
was  in  a  natural  state,  and  diiference  in  opinion  was 
of  a  sturdy,  knock-' em-down  character;  the  modern 
reader,  therefore,  must  neither  be  shocked  nor  sur- 
prised at  what  follows. 

One  William  Ripley,  who  was  an  eminent  grocer 
of  Liverpool,  rose  to  reply  to  the  rare  and  erudite 

eloquence  of  Thomas  o'th  H 's ;  Ripley's  oratory 

was  almost  altogether  confined  to  that  class  or  style 
of  speechifying  termed  monosyllabic.  Having  fairly 
steadied  himself  on  his  legs,  Ripley,  with  elegance 
and  energy,  addressed  the  last  speaker  thus ;  "  Thou 
liest !  "  and  thereupon  sat  down,  amidst  thunders  of 
laudatory  ejaculations,  uttered  in  the  pure  phraseology 
of  the  times. 

Ripley,  however,  was  not  permitted  to  feast  long 


120  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

on  the  honey  of  popular  applause  -,  for  one  Win.  JR., 
a  legitimate  legislator  of  Everton,  speedily  arose  from 
his  seat,  on  the  anti-Ripley  bench,  and  after  sundry 
ineffectual  attempts  to  stifle  and  subdue  a  vile  and 
impertinent  hiccup,  at  length  assumed  a  wise  look, 
and  delivered  himself  of  two  or  three  portentous 
puffs ;  in  due  time,  too,  his  eloquence  arose  through 
certain  guttural  passages  to  the  root  of  his  tongue, 
and  thence  rushing  to  its  tip,  thus  questioned  the 
bold  and  evidently  self-satisfied  Ripley.  "  Dus  ta' 

ca'  Tummus  o'th  H 's  a  liar?"     "Aye,"  replied 

the  valiant  Ripley.  Then,  foaming  with  fury,  and 
almost  choked  with  the  posse  of  angry  words  which 
-his  exasperated  brain  thrust,  pell-mell,  into  his 
throat,  the  doughty  adversary  of  the  still  undaunted 
Ripley  in  "  terrific  silence  stood :  "  at  length,  a  few 
emphatic  hems  disentangled  the  sentences  wliich  had 
most  unceremoniously  jostled  together  in  his  wind- 
pipe, and  one  of  them  escaped,  embodied  in  a  roar  of 
which  a  bull  would  not  have  been  ashamed,  bellowing 
in  the  ears  of  the  now  half-frighted  Ripley,  "  Then 
thou'rt  a  bear ! " 

Plaudit  on  plaudit  followed,  to  reward  this  elegant 
home-thrust  specimen  of  rhetoric.  The  late  bold 
Ripley  quailed  under  the  fulmination,  and  for  some 
time  sat  crest-fallen,  whilst,  to  conceal  his  fears  and 
feelings  of  discomfiture,  he  buried  his  features  under 
a  cloud  wliich  he  had  created  by  sharp  and  successive 
whiffs  of  his  pipe,  and,  like  many  other  discomfited 
heroes,  made  frequent  applications  to  his  friendly  cup 


A  SKETCH.  121 

for  consolation.  After  these,  and  such  like  occasional 
bursts  of  elegant  eloquence,  the  nobles  of  Everton 
would  again  bury  themselves  in  the  luxurious  fumes 
of  tobacco,  and  in  Utopian  dreams,  which  ever  and 
anon  arose  in  their  abstract  fits  of  taciturnity,  would 
thus  remain  until  the  hour  arrived  for  each  to  depart 
to  his  respective  home.  But,  occasionally,  the  old 
nobles  of  Everton  recreated  themselves  with  cards, 
principally  playing  the  game  of  brag ;  at  which  game, 
some  of  them  have  been  known  to  sit,  waning  against 
cankered  care,  and  cheating  old  father  Time,  for  three 
entire  and  successive  days  and  nights;  feeding  by 
snatches,  and  keeping  their  lower  limbs  warm  by 
suffering  the  cinders  to  spread  and  arise  in  heaps 
around  them,  in  which  they  embedded  their  legs,  as 
rumour  says,  nearly  knee-deep.  Can  modern  card- 
playing  match  this  ? — it  can — it  does,  and  far  beyond 
it;  that  is,  in  consequences  and  detrimental  results; 
a  few  minutes  now  spent  in  Everton  at  card-playing 
causes  many  a  guinea  to  change  masters;  whereas 
our  homely,  honest  old  lords  seldom,  if  ever,  rose 
from  the  hardest  of  their  carding  campaigns  the 
gainers  or  losers  of  more  than  a  few  shillings,  or  even 
pence. 

Although  the  nobles  of  Everton  occasionally  in- 
dulged in  the  game  of  brag,  yet,  eighty  years  ago, 
cards  were  little  known,  and  but  seldom  played,  save 
indeed  at  Christmas  time,  and  perchance  by  a  few 
dowagers  and  old  maids  at  some  rare  and  ceremonious 
times  of  assembling  together ;  but  visits  of  ceremony 


122  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

were  infrequent,  whilst  those  of  festivity  were  strictly 
periodical — always  at  Christinas,  and  occasionally  at 
other  holiday  seasons.  The  females  of  those  good, 
old,  by-gone  days,  constantly  busied  themselves 
with  domestic  duties,  and  the  men  with  out-door 
affairs  :  mothers  then  reared  their  daughters  more  for 
use  than  for  shew;  and  the  fingers  of  the  richest 
youthful  females  of  the  township  were  more  accustomed 
to  pudding-making  than  pianoforteising ;  to  plain 
sewing,  than  to  the  now  fashionable  employments  of 
embroidering  and  toy-making :  lasses,  then,  had  the 
rudiments  of  learning  engrafted  on  their  minds ;  the 
Bible,  and  perchance  a  ballad,  were  nearly  the  extent 
of  their  reading;  writing  was  seldom  called  for  or 
practised;  as  to  arithmetic,  they  seldom  found  it 
needful  to  know  more  of  it  than  "  how  many  blue 
beans  make  Jive." 

And  yet,  with  what  would  now  be  called  a  lamen- 
table lack  of  learning  (as  without  dispute  it  certainly 
maybe  deemed),  the  lasses  of  Everton,  in  olden  times, 
made  excellent  wives,  and  were  exemplary  mothers ; 
to  state  that  they  were  good  Aowse-wives  might,  in 
these  highly  civilized  days,  be  considered  as  only 
equivocally  meritorious, — but  the  man  who  wishes  to 
enjoy  real  domestic  happiness,  will  select  a  partner 
of  this  kind,  in  preference  to  an  accomplished  bas- 
bleu.  In  those  days,  the  lasses  of  Everton  were 
diamonds,  pure  from  the  mine,  capable  of  receiving 
higher  polish,  it  is  true,  but  not  the  less  intrinsically 
valuable  for  being  only  set  in  the  "mould  of  nature:" 


A  SKETCH.  123 

happy  was  the  man  who  became  possessed  of  those 
natural  diamonds,  for  it  was  generally  in  his  power  to 
give  to  them  the  hue  and  polish  his  heart  desired. 
As  to  the  young  men  of  Everton,  they  were  indeed 
insufficiently  instructed;  for  even  the  better  orders 
knew  little  of  books  in  general,  and  of  the  belles  lettres 
they  were  profoundly  ignorant. 

Times  are,  however,  much  altered,  "  learning  now 
lies  in  every  one's  way,  and  every  one  may  find  it ; " — 
time  must  shew  which  extreme  will  be  most  to  the 
advantage  of  society. 

There  is  a  calm,  smooth,  conscience-soothing 
feeling  constantly  reposing  on  the  minds  of  all 
who  live  as  did  the  good  people  of  Everton  during 
the  period  now  alluded  to;  it  was  then  the  practice 
to  go  to  bed  with  the  sun,  and  to  rise  with  or 
before  him :  from  the  roosting  time  of  the  feathered 
tribe,  until  chanticleer  strained  his  pipe  in  the  morn, 
peace  and  silence  held  undisturbed  sway  in  the 
township :  devoid  of  care,  and  scarcely  knowing 
guilt,  even  by  name,  the  worthy  inhabitants  of 
Everton  then  reposed  in  quiet  and  safety,  daily 
arising  from  refreshing  slumbers,  hale  and  hearty,  to 
perform  their  diurnal  duties.  Let  it  not  be  imagined, 
however,  that  the  people  of  Everton  in  those  so  highly 
lauded  days,  were  all  immaculate — no  such  thing; 
but  to  the  majority  of  them  this  picture  of  almost 
primitive  character  and  purity  belongs  :  there  were  a 
few  black  sheep  in  the  township ;  and  Bacchus  could 
then,  as  well  as  now,  command  a  small  company  of 


124  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

votaries.  During  the  winters  of  the  olden  time,  the 
cheerful  fire-sides  of  Everton  were  generally  sur- 
rounded by  the  happy  individuals  of  their  respective 
families,  and  often  augmented  by  the  presence  of 
neighbours  and  friends ;  it  was  then  that  the  needle 
and  distaff  were  sedulously  plied  by  the  females,  and 
the  old  men  smoked  their  pipes,  whilst  most  of  the 
young  men  sat  mum-chanting,  as  it  is  emphatically 
called,  or,  in  plain  English,  somewhat  sillily-silent;  not 
feeling  bold  enough,  in  the  presence  of  their  elders, 
to  advance  an  opinion,  but  reserving  their  ideas  for  the 
days  when  they  should  be  called  upon  to  play  their 
pails  as  masters  of  families :  but  they  were  not  all  of 
this  taciturn  cast,  for  some  smart  natural  sayings  and 
sprinklings  of  genuine  mother  wit  would  occasionally 
escape  their  lips ;  love,  too,  would  sometimes  inspire 
them  with  eloquence,  and  in  practical  courtship  they 
went  far  beyond  the  youth  of  the  present  day; 
romping  matches,  burglarious  depredations  on  the 
attire,  and  felonious  attacks  on  the  lasses'  lips,  were 
much  more  frequent  than  now;  that  is,  such  things 
were  practised  in  the  full  view  and  observance  of  the 
world,  whilst  in  these  days,  it  is  to  be  feared,  many 
a  deep  design  is  gilt  over  with  a  shew  of  decorum. 

In  the  olden  time,  virtue  had  scarcely  ever  to 
lament  the  loss  of  an  Everton  handmaiden,  and 
neither  stigma  nor  stain  has  rumour  cast  on  the 
fame  and  reputation  of  any  native  daughter  of  the 
township;  at  all  events,  no  croaking  collector  of 
scandal  has  as  yet  whispered  it  into  the  ears  of  the 


A  SKETCH.  125 

compiler  of  this  treatise,  where  every  tale  of  vice, 
which  has  been  deposited,  shall  remain  hidden  and 
entombed.  No  record  or  tradition  avers  that  any 
Thais  was  bom  at  Everton,  though  the  township's 
books  are  sullied  with  charges  of  female  frailties ;  but 
they  are  those  of  stranger  domestics,  aliens,  or  tem- 
porary sojourners.  Sunday  was  strictly  observed  as 
a  /io/y-day ;  to  travel  on  business,  or  to  take  pleasure- 
able  excursions,  on  that  day,  was  considered  sinful; 
such  undertakings  were  therefore  never  entered  upon, 
and  indeed  not  even  thought  of,  by  the  late  genera- 
tions of  the  inhabitants  of  Everton.  To  honour  the 
day,  by  decorating  themselves  in  their  best  apparel ; 
to  go  regularly  twice,  if  not  oftener,  to  church;  to 
take  their  moderate  and  sober  meals  in  quiet  and 
thankfulness;  and  to  fill  up  the  portions  of  time, 
not  devoted  to  piety  and  prayer,  with  pleasant,  salu- 
brious walks,  in  their  gardens,  meadows,  and  high- 
roads, or,  when  in  doors,  seated  in  conclave,  or  alone, 
consulting  that  holy  book,  the  Bible ; — such  were  the 
Sabbath-day  employments  of  a  great  majority  of  the 
unsophisticated  beings  who  dwelt  in  Everton  seventy 
or  eighty  years  ago. 

People  of  the  present  day  may  deem  the  manners 
and  employments  of  their  predecessors  to  have  been 
vulgar  and  tame,  and  may  stigmatize  the  good  old 
mode  of  passing  through  life,  as  one  dull  round  of 
sameness ;  but  such  sameness  was  as  beneficial,  and 
conducive  to  morality,  as  are  sober  and  refreshing 
draughts  of  pure  water  to  the  physical  system.  But 


126  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

where  is  the  pastoral  population  of  Everton  uow? 
Where  are  its  robust,  hardy,  and  healthy  children 
of  agriculture — its  hale,  vigorous,  cheerful  young 
men — its  neat,  yet  plainly  attired,  artless,  blushing, 
ruddy,  merry  maidens  ? — gone — all  gone !  Many 
of  them  are  removed  by  death,  some  are  converted 
into  other  things  by  fashion,  and  a  few,  perhaps,  are 
sojourners  in  other  lands. 

Together  with  the  face  of  the  soil,  the  manners, 
customs,  habits,  employments,  and  amusements  of  the 
people  of  Everton  have  become  wonderfully  changed, 
almost  to  the  very  reverse  of  former  usages.  Their 
sports  and  amusements  during  the  early  and  middle 
parts  of  the  last  century,  were  similar  to  those  in 
which  the  people  of  the  county  at  large  indulged. 
The  fair  sex  had  then  few  exclusive  amusements; 
and  as  to  the  sports  and  plays  of  the  younger  females, 
tradition  only  speaks  of  such  as  my  lady-queen-ann, 
chuck-kernels,  or  five-stones,  and  a  few  other  such 
like  games,  in  which  female  children  used  to  engage 
at  their  parents'  thresholds,  or  on  a  sunny  bank,  un- 
mixed with  the  other  sex.  But  women  grown  had 
scarcely  any  amusement  in  which  they  indulged 
themselves,  distinct  from  family  society. 

Boys  diverted  themselves  with  the  usual  varieties 
of  spontaneous  mischief,  and,  at  fixed  times  and 
seasons,  indulged  in  the  games  of  hoops,  tops,  mar- 
bles, balls,  kites,  pop-guns,  &c. ;  as  they  approached 
toward  manhood,  they  took  pleasure  in  congregating 
together  in  large  bodies,  to  engage  in  the  games 


A  SKETCH.  127 

of  prison-bar,  quoits,  leap-frog,  foot-and-a-half,  and 
bandy ;  and  when  they  arrived  at  the  full  plenitude 
of  strength,  they  would  betake  themselves  to  wres- 
tling, cudgel-playing,  and  hurling,  or  play  at  football, 
skittles,  pitch-and-hustle,  cross-and-pile,  &c.  How- 
ever vulgar  such  pastimes  as  publicly  grinning 
through  a  horse-collar,  running  races  in  sacks,  and 
eating  scalding-hot  porridge,  may  now  be  deemed, 
such  things  have  been  known  to  take  place  in 
the  township,  and  very  frequently  on  the  borders 
of  Everton.  These  and  such  like  sports  afforded 
high  gratification  to  the  beholders  of  those  days, 
and  to  some  who  were  not  of  the  lower  orders, 
for  many  a  young  and  wealthy  heiress,  and  many 
a  rich,  hopeful  heir  might,  eighty  years  ago,  have 
been  found  in  the  crowd  of  spectators  at  such  sports. 
Mummers  and  morris-dancers  were  much  in  vogue  $ 
both  sexes  would  sometimes  mingle  in  the  "mum- 
mer's merry  mazes;"  but,  to  the  credit  of  the  fair 
sex  of  Everton  be  it  recorded,  the  female  characters, 
required  in  mummer-performances,  were  generally 
enacted  by  individuals  of  the  other  sex,  decorated 
in  grotesque  attire.  The  performers,  on  such  occa- 
sions, wore  masks,  under  cover  of  which  a  licence 
would  be  frequently  taken  to  proceed  beyond  the 
boundaries  of  modesty  and  decorum.  The  barbarous, 
but  now  nearly  exploded  practices  (ci-devant  amuse- 
ments) of  bull  and  bear-beating,  were  greatly  encou- 
raged and  indulged  in  by  our  ancestors :  the  still 


128  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

more  cruel  pastime  (horrid  misnomer !)  of  cock- 
fighting,  was  a  favourite  and  frequently-recurring 
practice  j  especially  at  Shrovetide,  when  poor  chan- 
ticleer was  doomed  to  be  the  victim  of  double  cruelty, 
being  not  only  frequently  fought,  but  also  tied  to 
stakes,  and  cast  at  with  clubs,  for  a  certain  sum  given 
at  each  throw. 

Mischievous  urchins  existed  in  those  days,  who,  in 
the  fitting  seasons  (as  is  still  their  practice),  warred 
against  the  feathered  tribe,  with  trap,  net,  and  bird- 
lime; eggs  and  young  birds  were  sought  for  by 
them  with  avidity,  and  wantonly  and  cruelly  sacri- 
ficed. 

All  kinds  of  game  were  followed  by  sportsmen, 
who  with  the  hound  run  down  prey,  and  with  the 
gun  committed  havoc  dire,  amongst  both  the  feathered 
and  the  furry  tribes.  From  youthhood  to  mature  age, 
the  sports  of  angling  were  enjoyed ;  but  meagre  were 
the  spoils  the  township  afforded  within  itself,  to  the 
huntsman  or  piscator.  The  hazle  coppices  were 
visited,  at  proper  seasons,  by  the  youth  of  both  sexes ; 
and  not  ^infrequently  would  single  pairs,  when  "  going 
a  nutting,"  take  the  opportunity  to  seat  themselves 
under  the  hazle-bush,  and  there  sigh,  say,  and  listen 
to  fond  amorous  tales. 

Bonfires  were  annually  ignited,  at  Everton,  on 
each  5th  of  November,  from  the  time  of  Guy  Faux 
until  some  twenty  years  ago,  when  the  practice  was 
discontinued  by  order  of  the  magistrates.  The  prin- 


A  SKETCH. 


cipal  bonfire  was  .that  which  annually  blazed  in  the 
open  space  of  ground  that  was,  in  old  times,  almost 
opposite  to  the  ancient  town's  smithy :  the  place  is 
not  distant  more  than  fifty  yards  north-north-east  of 
the  present  coffee-house,  and  is  at  the  same  distance 
in  the  east  from  the  plot  of  land  on  the  slope  of  the 
Brow,  now  enclosed  with  stone  work  and  handsome 
iron  railing,  in  the  midst  of  which  plot  stands  a 
diminutive  stone-jug — the  Everton  bridewell. 

Fun  and  frolic,  mirth  and  mischief,  were  as  "  busy 
as  bees,"  on  the  bonfire  nights,  at  Everton :  all 
classes  flocked  around  the  bright  blaze :  crack!  crack! 
in  the  lasses'  ears  went  many  a  ball-less  discharge  from 
pistol  and  gun;  serpents  hissed  along,  and  singed 
the  hem  of  many  a  petticoat;  and  oft  were  heard 
repeated  screams,  partly  feigned,  after  rapid  dis- 
charges of  the  dancing  crackers.  Then  the  Everton 
lads,  aye,  and  many  of  the  lasses  too,  enjoyed  them- 
selves at  the  pic-nic  feast  of  many  choice  tid-bits, 
brought  to  be  devoured  at  the  bonfire's  cheerful 
border,  whilst  in  the  embers  they  roasted  that  essen- 
tial root — the  potatoe ;  nor  were  the  modicums  of 
beer  absent  from  the  table  which  mother  earth  libe- 
rally furnished.  For  a  long  succession  of  years,  the 
night  of  the  5th  of  November  was  considered  and 
held  as  a  period  of  enjoyment  and  jollity ;  and  there 
is  still  living  in  the  township  a  very  worthy  and 
respectable  personage,*  who  loves  to  tell,  somewhat 
boastingly,  that  he  was  for  many  successive  years 


*  Mr.  James  Holmes. 
K 


130  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

the  captain  of  the  Everton  bonfire.  It  is  seen  in  the 
town's  books,  that  for  a  long  succession  of  years  a 
sum  of  from  Is.  to  3s.  was  regularly  and  annually 
given  "  to  the  lads  on  the  5th  November."  In  the 
town's  accounts,  a  charge  of  the  sum  given  has 
always  (when  paid  to  the  bonfire-lads}  been  passed 
at  the  meeting  as  a  regular  matter :  the  practice  of 
thus  giving  the  lads  the  town's  money  for  bonfires 
seems  to  have  been  discontinued  since  the  year 
1811,  that  year  being  the  last  in  which  such  charge 
is  made.  In  the  year  1806,  5s.  was  given  to  the 
lads,  instead  of  a  bonfire. 

To  delineate  the  gradual  change  from  primitive, 
pastoral  manners,  to  those  of  the  present  day,  would 
be  a  minute,  trite,  and  superfluous  task ;  it  is  better, 
then,  to  strike  into  a  brief  descriptive  account  of  the 
customs,  habits,  and  employments  of  the  existing  in- 
habitants of  Everton.  Much  as  the  surface  of  the 
soil  and  general  appearance  of  the  township  have 
been  altered,  they  are  not  more  changed  than  the 
modern  usages  and  habits  of  its  present  society  differ 
from  those  of  ancient  times. 

The  hind  and  labouring  husbandman  have  now 
but  little  agricultural  employment  at  Everton;  this 
class  of  labourers  having  become  jacks-of-all-trades, 
performing  the  tasks  of  gardeners,  valets,  road- 
repairers,  and  jobbers, — in  short,  thorough-paced  jour- 
neymen of  all  work ;  whilst  the  wives  and  daughters 
of  these  labourers  are  washers  and  manglers  of  linen, 
managers  of  petty  shops,  and  domestic  drudges.  The 


A  SKETCH.  131 

majority  of  the  labourers  of  Everton  are  industrious, 
honest,  sober,  and  faithful;  but,  as  is  the  case  in 
most  places,  some  may  be  found  who  are  too  fond  of 
paying  their  devoirs  at  the  shrine  of  Bacchus.  The 
lower  orders  of  Everton  have  recently  had  a  great 
accession  to  their  number,  by  the  settlement  in  the 
township  of  many  labouring  persons,  who  reside  on 
the  borders  and  parts  of  Everton  which  approximate 
to  and  join  Liverpool ;  they  are  altogether  a  new 
class  of  beings  in  the  township,  nothing  at  all  re- 
moved in  their  habits  and  employments  from  those  of 
the  lower  and  working  classes  of  all  large  towns. 
There  are  now  many  trades-people  establishing 
themselves  at  Everton — deserving,  useful  classes  of 
people ;  and  there  are  also  some  few  establishments 
of  small  dealers  and  shopkeepers,  whose  stores  afford 
great  accommodation,  inasmuch  as  they  satisfy  many 
wants  which  otherwise  must  have  been  supplied  at 
Liverpool ;  but  there  is  not,  as  yet,  one  shop  of 
eminence  in  Everton. 

A  number  of  persons  engaged  in  the  minor  de- 
partments of  commerce,  and  some  mercantile  and 
professional  clerks,  reside  at  Everton ;  some  of  whom 
only  make  it  their  place  of  lodging,  others  take  a 
hasty  stride  home  to  their  meals,  and  at  night  again 
delightedly  repair  to  their  wives  and  families.  Per- 
sons thus  circumstanced  can  only,  on  Sabbath-days 
or  superior  holidays,  spend  an  entire  day  in  full 
domestic  unity  and  sociality. 

Ascending  on  the  scale  of  society,  the  merchant 


132  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

must  have  the  next  place  here.  Many  of  these  reside 
at  Everton,  some  of  whom  carry  on  business  in  a 
humble  way,  and  within  moderate  limits,  whilst  others 
are  extensive  traders,  whose  affairs  are  of  mighty 
magnitude.  It  is  to  be  understood,  however,  that 
the  merchants  who  reside  at  Everton  are  almost, 
without  a  single  exception,  merchants  of  Liverpool, 
but  who  have  chosen  Everton  as  a  most  desirable 
place  of  residence  for  themselves  and  families. 

It  is  this  class  of  persons,  principally,  that  has 
made  Everton  what  it  is ;  their  wealth  and  attention 
have  transformed  a  spot  which,  not  long  ago,  was 
little  better  than  an  unsightly  common — a  neglected 
waste — into  a  modern  Arcadia,  not  so  productive, 
perhaps,  as  was  Arcadia  of  old,  yet  little  inferior  in 
beauty  and  salubrity  to  that  highly  extolled  region  of 
antiquity. 

The  merchants  residing  at  Everton  at  the  present 
time,  may  be  seen  "  plodding  their  anxious  way,"  from 
their  mansions  to  their  offices,  at  all  times  between 
the  hours  of  eight  and  eleven  in  the  morning  of 
every  day,  but  that  of  the  Sabbath.  The  greater 
part  of  these  gentlemen  usually  walk  to  town,  al- 
though there  are  but  few  of  them  who  do  not  keep 
either  two  or  four-wheeled  carriages,  of  some  struc- 
ture or  other,  from  the  light  gig  to  the  gorgeous 
heavy-bodied  coach.  Many  keep  two  or  more  of 
such  carriages ;  but  not  any  persons,  at  present 
residing  at  Everton,  run  their  carriages  with  four 
horses,  except  indeed  upon  casual  and  very  rare 


A  SKETCH. 


133 


occasions.  The  practice  of  the  gentry  of  Everton 
walking  to  town  is  as  conducive  to  their  own  health 
as  convenient  and  agreeable  to  their  families,  the 
carriages  heing  at  liberty  to  take  them  on  excursions 
of  business  or  pleasure,  or  to  visit  the  shrines  of 
fashion,  or  to  leave  their  cards-of-compliment  at  the 
doors  of  their  acquaintance  and — the  word  will  some- 
times apply — friends. 

The  dinner-hour  of  the  gentry  at  Everton  is  seldom 
much  before  five  in  the  afternoon,  and  often  later; 
there  are  some  few  persons,  however,  and  who  rank 
high  in  their  line  of  transactions,  that  dine  at  the 
unfashionable  hour  of  one  or  two.  Many  respectable 
individuals  take  their  dinner  about  the  hour  of  three; 
these  are  principally  such  as  have  retired  from 
business,  or  who  are  otherwise  independent. 

It  is  the  custom  of  those  who  are  engaged  in 
commmercial  pursuits,  and  who  dine  at  the  earlier 
hours,  to  return  to  business  after  dinner;  but  they 
.who  take  late  dinners  seldom  visit  Liverpool  in  the 
evening,  unless  it  be  to  join  a  private  party  of 
pleasure,  or  to  attend  a  concert,  or  the  theatre.  On 
a  par  with  the  chief  merchants  may  be  placed  several 
eminent  brokers,  who  also  reside  at  Everton,  whose 
talent,  industry,  and  wealth  approach  near  to  an 
equality  with  those  of  their  great  mercantile  neigh- 
bours. The  clergy,  medical  men,  and  lawyers  of 
Everton  are  few  in  number,  but  highly  respectable 
in  their  respective  spheres,  exemplary  in  their  con- 
duct, regular  and  indefatigable  in  the  performance  of 


134  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

their  respective  duties,  and  truly  useful  in  their  avoca- 
tions ;  nor  need  any  exception  be  made  to  this  well- 
merited  eulogy  on  their  character.  There  are  not 
any  family  of  nobility,  at  this  time,  residing  at  Ever- 
ton ;  Prince  Rupert,  and  Prince  William  (now  Duke) 
of  Gloucester,  are  the  only  personages  of  royal  blood 
that  have  been  known  to  make  Everton  their  tempo- 
rary place  of  abode. 

The  manners  of  the  greater  part  of  the  higher  and 
of  the  middle  classes  of  Everton  are  bland,  courteous, 
and  polished ;  and  even  those  of  the  lower  grades  are 
much  improved,  and  are  making  some  approaches  to 
civilization.  As  to  the  middle  classes  of  society,  their 
manners  and  conduct  are  characteristically  stamped 
with  sound  sense  and  decorum ;  in  their  general  inter- 
course with  their  neighbours,  they  are  hospitable  and 
friendly ;  and  in  their  personal  appearance,  neatness 
and  comfort  are  most  becomingly  blended  together: 
as  to '  their  internal  arrangements,  they  might  be 
almost  termed  essays  in  cleanness,  order,  and  even, 
elegance;  and  their  domestic  economy  is  regulated 
on  a  scale  which  enables  them  to  provide  most  satis- 
torily  all  that  their  own  wants  and  comforts  require ; 
to  entertain  their  friends  respectably,  and  even  sump- 
tuously ;  and  to  perform  deeds  of  general  benevolence 
and  charity. 

If  the  term  amusements  be  taken  strictly,  and  in  its 
literal  sense,  the  people  of  Everton  may  be  said  to 
have  enjoyed  but  a  very  limited  share,  either  in  times 
past,  or  at  the  present  day;  but  there  are  certain 


A  SKETCH.  135 

ways  of  employing  time,  which  are  recreative  and 
refreshing  to  body  and  mind,  although  mirth  may  not 
at  such  times  mix  with  our  modes  and  moods :  the 
acceptation  of  the  term  amusements  is  therefore,  in  this 
context,  to  be  considered,  and  to  have  allowed  unto  it, 
as  general  and  diffuse  a  meaning  as  our  language 
will  afford. 

At  the  present  day,  retirement  from  the  bustle  of 
trade,  to  enjoy  social  and  domestic  pleasures,  seems  to 
be  the  ne  plus  ultra  of  the  enjoyments  of  the  people 
of  Everton ;  and  latterly,  a  sober,  not  to  say  sombre 
shade,  has  been  cast  over  the  social  manners  and  con- 
duct of  a  great  part  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  township, 
many  of  whom  have  become  as  systematic,  uniform, 
and  regular  in  plainly  attiring  their  persons,  and  in 
their  regularity  of  attending  to  pious  duties,  as  are  the 
fraternities  or  sects  termed  Methodists  and  Friends. 

Of  the  amusements  of  the  lower  classes  of  Everton, 
little  can  be  said,  for  little  or  none  do  they  enjoy.  A 
spirit  has  lately  arisen  in  the  land,  that  has  instigated 
the  magistracy,  and  other  high  and  influential  persons, 
to  curb,  restrain,  and  almost  absolutely  forbid,  the 
lowly  and  humble  of  society  from  indulging  in  any 
pastimes  whatever.  Everton  was  never  known  to 
hold  fairs  or  wakes,  or  such  like  merry-makings,  within 
its  own  limits ;  but  in  the  neighbouring  townships,  at 
certain  fixed  periods,  such  meetings  were  frequently 
held,  and  at  most  of  such  merry-makings,  the  lads 
and  lasses  of  Everton  seldom  failed  to  attend.  For  a 
great  number  of  years  it  was  the  custom  and  practice 


136  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

of  the  common  people  of  Liverpool  and  its  vicinage 
to  assemble  annually,  at  Easter-tide,  to  recreate  them- 
selves at  a  place  called  Folly-field — a  field  in  Liver- 
pool, and  which  adjoined  the  south  border  of  Ever- 
tOn.  The  magistrates  of  Liverpool  have,  however, 
t( quashed  the  custom;  "  for,  in  the  year  1819,  Folly- 
fair  Easter-meeting  was  forbidden  to  be  held ;  and 
never  since  that  time  have  the  people  assembled  to 
enjoy  themselves  in  that  quarter. 

To  Folly-fair  the  common  people  of  Everton  cer- 
tainly went;  but  owing,  as  it  was  said,  to  its  licentious- 
ness, it  was  abolished,  and  is  now  almost  forgotten, 
although  a  dozen  years  have  not  passed  away  since  it 
was  at  the  height  of  its  notoriety. 

The  Folly  was  near  the  confines  of  Everton,  and, 
therefore,  it  is  deemed  reconcileable  to  the  plan  and 
object  of  this  treatise  to  introduce  the  following 
extract  from,  a  letter,  written  by  an  elderly  gentleman, 
and  which  was  intended  for  insertion  in  a  Liverpool 
newspaper;  but  the  contribution  was  not  sent,  nor 
has  it  been  published  until  now. 

"  The  Folly  was  a  low  building,  with  a  few  rooms 
for  the  family,  and  two  or  three  small  ones  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  public  on  the  ground  floor ;  at 
the  west  end  there  was  a  large  tower,  and  from  the 
erection  of  this  part,  the  place  got  the  name  of 
*  Folly  ' — the  inhabitants  of  the  neighbourhood  sup- 
posing the  proprietor  to  be  a  simpleton. 
R  "  The  site  of  the  Folly  was  near  the  south  entrance 
to  St.  Anne's-street ;  the  building  had  a  narrow 


A  SKETCH.  137 

passage,  which  led  to  it  from  a  (then)  dirty  lane, 
that  ran  towards  Derby — the  same  road,  hut  now 
much  improved  and  widened,  is  called  Upper- 
Islington. 

"  The  Folly  was  noted  for  delicious  cakes  and 
choice  ale,  and  forms  were  placed  in  the  court  or 
fronfrground,  for  the  accommodation  of  guests. 

"  This  house  was  much  frequented  on  Sunday 
evenings  and  on  holidays,  and  more  particularly 
about  the  time  of  Easter,  for  at  that  season  a  beverage 
was  brewed  at  the  Folly,  composed  of  ale  enriched 
with  spices,  called  braggot,  and  the  holiday-folk 
flocked  from  Liverpool  town  to  quaff  this  their 
favourite  beverage :  many  of  the  guests  seated  them- 
selves on  the  top  of  the  Folly,  from  whence  they 
enjoyed  a  most  charming  prospect  of  Liverpool, 
Everton,  and  the  river  Mersey. 

"  The  Folly  was  taken  down,  and  there  was  not  any 
assemblages  of  persons  in  that  neighbourhood  for 
some  years  afterwards,  except  indeed  the  walks  and 
airings  taken  by  young  persons  on  holidays,  and 
particularly  at  Easter-tide,  when  the  season  frequently 
tempted  them  in  crowds  to  creep  toward  the  country ; 
many  youngsters,  too,  at  that  season  flocked  to  the 
open  grounds,  near  the  site  of  the  old  Folly,  to  play 
at  trap,  &c.  &c.,  and  to  indulge  in  many  such  like 
harmless  amusements. 

"  It  was  not  until  some  public-houses  were  opened 
on  the  road  near  to  where  the  Folly  stood,  that  the 
people  again  resorted  to  that  neighbourhood  to  drink 


138  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

and  make  merry  at  Easter-tide ;  and  then  first  arose 
the  name  of  Folly-fair. 

"  From  these  last  named  meetings  originated  the 
present  licentious  and  immoral  practices  that  now 
annually  take  place  on  the  roads  leading  from  Liver- 
pool to  Derby  and  Low-hill ;  and  the  magistrates  are 
highly  to  be  commended  for  endeavouring  to  suppress 
the  disorderly,  riotous  proceedings  which  now  dis- 
grace that  neighbourhood;  proceedings  that  bear  no 
resemblance  to  the  original  quiet  and  well  regulated 
practices  that  were  wont  to  be  followed  at  the  ancient 
house  of  entertainment,  called  the  Folly." 

From  time  immemorial  wakes  have  been  and  still 
are  annually  held  at  West  Derby ;  it  would  appear, 
however,  that  neither  now  nor  formerly  have  they 
been  much  frequented  by  the  people  of  Everton. 
Rude  and  rough  are  the  sports  at  Derby  wakes,  bull- 
baiting,  and  other  cruel  practices,  having  formed 
the  chief  amusements;  for  many  years  it  was  the 
custom  to  drive  a  bull  from  these  wakes  into  the 
streets  of  Liverpool,  until  a  most  audacious  set  of 
revellers  actually  drove  one  of  the  baited  Derby  bulls 
into  a  box  of  the  theatre,  in  Williamson-square ;  the 
act,  however,  proved  so  obnoxious  to  the  people  of 
Liverpool,  as  to  cause  them  to  apply  to  the  magis- 
trates, who  at  once  put  a  stop  to  the  practice  of  bring- 
ing the  bulls  from  Derby  wakes  into  the  town's 
crowded  streets. 

Occasionally  the  common  people  are  indulged  with 
a  sight-seeing  occurrence  at  Everton ;  but  they  are  so 


A  SKETCH.  139 

near  the  tempting  allurements  of  Liverpool,  that  the 
lack  of  places  of  amusement  is  not  heeded.  The  rural 
dance  is  now  obsolete;  indeed,  at  this  day,  there  is 
scarcely  a  vestige  left  of  rural  pastime,  or  pastoral 
recreation,  in  all  Everton. 

The  sports,  amusements,  and  employments  of  the 
upper  and  middle  classes  of  society,  now  residing  at 
Everton,  are  so  similar,  that  it  may  be  allowed  to 
treat  of  them  under  the  same  head. 

As  already  stated,  society  has,  of  late,  assumed 
a  sombre  character  at  Everton;  numbers  of  its 
residents  spending  a  great  part  of  their  leisure  time 
in  conversational  intercourse,  not  only  with  their 
living  neighbours  and  acquaintance,  but  with  their 
inanimate,  yet  not  less  sincere  friends,  their  books. 
A  book  society  has  been  formed,  upon  principles,  and 
under  regulations,  which  give  it  a  useful  effect, 
with  the  least  possible  pecuniary  outlay;  indeed  it 
may  be  said,  that  the  highest  class  of  amusement, 
blended  with  the  advantages  to  be  derived  from  the 
expansion  of  knowledge,  and  the  general  cultivation 
of  the  mental  faculties,  is  purchased  by  the  members 
of  the  Everton  book  society  in  the  most  economical 
manner,  that  of  a  public  library  excepted, — which 
Everton  does  not,  at  present,  possess ;  but  in  good 
time,  there  is  little  doubt,  this  want  will  be  supplied. 
Unless  the  male  gentry  travel  to  some  distance  from 
their  own  township,  they  will  have  little  chance  of 
enjoying  what  are  called  field  sports,  for  there  are 
scarcely  any  foxes  or  hares,  and  little  or  none  of  any 


140  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

kind  of  feathered  game,  to  be  met  with  in  Everton's 
entire  township.  Nor  are  there  in  Everton  any 
lakes,  rivers,  or  rivulets,  or  other  waters  worthy  to  cast 
a  net  or  line  into ;  there  are  indeed  a  few  ponds, 
some  of  which  perhaps  are  stored  indifferently  with 
small  fish,  but  even  such  may  only  be  found  in  private 
gardens  and  pleasure  grounds,  and  are  consequently, 
in  the  strictest  sense  of  the  word,  preserved. 

Archery  has  occasionally  been  practised  as  a 
pastime,  both  by  the  young  and  by  adults,  at 
Everton,  where  associations  of  archers  have  been 
formed,  composed  of  the  gentry  and  their  neighbours ; 
but  the  spirit  that  originated  such  associations  has 
ever  proved  feeble  and  short-lived. 
.  The  gentry  of  Everton  have  frequently  evinced 
a  disposition  to  make  a  display  of  fire-works ;  but  no 
exhibitions  worthy  of  record  have  resulted  from  their 
efforts;  and  even  those  few  public  displays  of  the 
pyrotechnic  art  which  have  taken  place,  within  the 
last  few  years,  proved  little  other  than  mere  "flashes 
in  the  pan." 

For  a  long  period  previous  to  the  year  1814  there 
had  not  been  a  bowling-green  in  the  township,  when 
James  Atherton,  Esq.,  attached  one  to  a  large  com- 
modious edifice  near  to  the  church.  When  that 
.edifice  was  first  occupied,  it  was  a  house  of  public 
entertainment,  known  by  the  name  of  "St.  George's 
Hotel;"  and  to  that  hotel  the  bowling-green  was 
attached,  until  the  former  was  converted  into  a  board- 
ing-school, in  the  year  1822,  and  the  bowling-green 


A  SKETCH.  141 

became  the  play-ground  of  the  pupils.  Thus  deprived 
of  the  place  in  which  the  Evertonians  had  been  wont 
to  recreate  themselves,  a  number  of  respectable  per- 
sons, in  the  year  1822,  established  by  subscription  the 
present  bowling-green,  which  is  at  the  east  part  of  a 
spot  or  locality  marked  19,  i,  on  the  map,  at  a  little 
distance  due  west  of  the  mere.  It  is  said  that  there 
were  other  bowling-greens  at  Everton  formerly  -,  but 
if  so,  it  would  appear  that  they  proved  neither  attrac- 
tive nor  profitable  :  the  present  subscription  bowling- 
green,  however,  promises  to  answer  the  expectations 
of  its  founders. 

Of  late  years,  during  the  seasons  of  frost,  a  number 
of  gentlemen  have  assembled,  almost  daily,  on  the 
mere,  to  engage  in  the  Scottish  pastime  of  curling. 

The  in-door  amusements  of  the  gentry  of  Everton 
may  be  comprised  under  the  general  heads  of  card- 
parties,  routs,  dances,  conversational-meetings,  and 
social  and  convivial  assemblies,  at  the  dinner,  tea,  and 
supper  tables.  Concerts  are  not  now  given  at  Ever- 
ton, except  occasionally  on  a  very  small  scale,  when 
they  are  held  at  private  houses ;  but  there  was  one 
society  deserving  of  record — a  society  that  has  few 
parallels  in  the  unison  of  sentiment,  friendship,  and 
stability,  and  which  existed  for  a  quarter  of  a  century; 
this  was  a  quartette  party,  whose  meetings  were  regu- 
larly held  weekly,  on  the  evenings  of  Thursday, 
except  when  sickness  or  sorrow  caused  temporary 
interruptions.  Death  has  made  lamentable  breaches 
in  the  ranks  of  this  musical  phalanx,  though  until  the 


142  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

present  time  other  members  were  procured  to  supply 
the  places  of  the  removed, — but  the  society  is  now 
broken  up.  It  may  not  be  amiss  to  state,  that  the 
long  endurance  of  tliis  musical  society  may  be  attri- 
buted to  the  prudent  determination  of  its  members, 
and  which  was  strictly  adhered  to,  of  not  luxuriously 
catering  to  the  appetite,  or  to  any  of  the  grosser 
senses,  confining  their  exertions  to  please  the  ear, 
and  harmonise  the  passions :  they  limited  their  re- 
freshments to  coffee,  and  bread,  with  its  butyra- 
ceous  concomitants ;  sparingly,  very  sparingly  indeed, 
did  they  indulge  in  the  cordial  cup,  and  no  dainty 
delicacies  ever  smoked  on  their  boards.  With  these 
sons  of  harmony,  the  selected  evenings  were  strictly 
dedicated  to  Apollo ;  nor  did  late  hours,  or  excess  of 
any  kind,  ever  sully  their  truly  harmonious  meetings. 
It  is  reasonable  to  assume  that  the  genius  of  music 
often  hovered  over  the  domicile  of  Mr.  Drinkwater, 
and  with  pleasure  tarried  there,  to  listen  to  the  "  con- 
cord of  sweet  sounds : "  and  when  death  shall  have 
unstrung  the  harps  of  all  who  used  to  join  this  harmo- 
nious band,  still  will  the  genius  of  music,  as  he  lingers 
over  the  well  remembered  spot,  bestow  a  tributary 
sigh,  and  chaunt  a  prayer-hymn  to  the  throne  of 
grace,  that  the  souls  of  his  departed  devotees  may  find 
rest,  peace,  and  happiness  in  heaven. 

An  attempt  was  made,  in  November,  1814,  soon 
after  the  erection  of  the  church  at  Everton,  to  hold 
an  oratorio  there :  the  price  of  a  ticket  was  fifteen 
shillings,  which  admitted  the  possessor  to  two  days' 


A  SKETCH.  143 

performances ;  but  the  attempt  was  unsuccessful,  and 
resulted  in  loss  and  disappointment  to  its  projectors 
and  conductors. 

About  twenty  years  ago,  some  attempts  were  made 
to  establish  public  assemblies  at  Everton,  where  the 
aged  might  recreate  themselves  with  cards,  and  the 
young  with  "tripping  on  the  light  fantastic  toe." 
The  attempt,  at  first,  promised  tolerable  success,  but 
the  number  of  frequenters  annually  becoming  less,  and 
dwindling  into  insignificance,  the  project  was  altoge- 
ther abandoned.  Those  assemblies  were  held  at  the 
Everton  Coffee-house,  on  the  Brow,  and  were  as  much 
frequented  by  the  people  of  Liverpool,  as  by  the  inha- 
bitants of  Everton.  About  the  same  period,  one  or 
two  grand  balls  were  given  at  the  coffee-house,  by 
bachelor-gentlemen,  who  had  received  civic  honours. 
The  expenses  incurred  by  the  mock-magistrates 
afforded  them  scarcely  any  other  reward  than  deri- 
sion's smile. 

Of  the  existing  in-door  amusements  of  the  gentry 
of  Everton,  routs  must  have  precedence,  and  routs  are 
not  infrequently  held  at  Everton,  at  which  the  num- 
ber of  visitors  materially  varies.  Sometimes,  at  such 
meetings,  a  snug  party  of  half-a-dozen  assembles ;  in 
general,  however,  the  number  is  greater,  extending 
to  twenty,  fifty,  or  more ;  when  the  visitors  are  very 
numerous,  they,  of  course,  squeeze  themselves  into 
pleasure's  saloons,  and,  in  such  cases,  fresh  air  is 
sometimes  as  precious  as  it  was  in  the  never-to-be- 
forgotten  prison-cell  of  Calcutta.  The  employment 


144  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

of  time  at  the  Everton  evening  parties  is,  in  some 
instances,  in  conversation  only,  but  more  frequently 
with  cards;  sometimes  music  and  singing  are  the 
order  of  such  nights ;  and  often,  particularly  in  the 
cold  season,  "  dancing  devours  the  merry  hours ; " 
whilst  at  other  times,  all  these  employments  are  pro- 
gressing simultaneously  under  one  roof,  and  on  the 
same  evening.  The  refreshments  served  at  such 
meetings  accord  with  the  convenience,  capability,  and 
inclination  of  the  host  or  hostess,  and  are  generally 
studiously  produced  to  meet  the  taste  of  the  guests. 
At  some  parties,  tea  and  tea-bread  only  are  offered ; 
this  kind  of  party  has  received  the  ill-merited  satirical 
title  of  "tea  and  turn-out"  At  other  parties,  to  the 
tea  and  coffee,  rich  cake  and  wine  are  added;  and 
not  unfrequently  the  visitor  is  treated  with  viands 
more  substantial,  introduced  on  trays,  which  are  gene- 
rally covered  with  sandwiches,  slices  of  cold  meat, 
patties,  and  pies  of  fruit  and  meat,  together  with 
custards,  jellies,  and  glasses  sparkling  with  wine,  or 
foaming  with  malt  liquor ;  and  generally,  when  part- 
ing time  comes,  good  night  is  drank  in  a  cordial  spirit 
cup,  or  a  glass  of  generous  wine. 

But  a  practice  is  now  very  prevalent,  at  these  even- 
ing parties,  of  seating  the  guests  at  a  supper-board, 
sometimes  moderately  covered,  but  too  often  loaded, 
with  many  delicacies  of  the  season.  At  such  supper- 
parties,  conviviality  becomes  the  order  of  the  hour; 
tongues  are  unloosed,  that  previously  seemed  inca- 
pable of  motion,  by  the  all-powerful  effects  of  sociality 


A  SKETCH.  145 

and  good  cheer ;  it  is  then  that  many,  who  at  other 
times  are  accounted  silent,  sedate,  and  sober  persons, 
often  change  their  outward  characters.  Starch  and 
demure  personages  will,  at  these  hospitable  meetings, 
lay  aside  the  cloak  in  which  convenience,  interest, 
habit,  or  hypocrisy  had  wrapped  them,  to  play  the 
merry-andrew,  spout  out  witticisms,  or  promulgate 
sarcasms,  inuendoes,  and  jokes  of  every  grade,  from 
the  excellent  to  the  despicable.  But  the  majority  of 
the  guests  at  an  Everton  suppering,  it  is  willingly  and 
truly  avowed,  are  good,  hearty  subjects;  and  indeed, 
taking  them  in  the  main,  the  men  are  honest,  and  the 
lasses  bonny.  The  pleasure  of  the  evening  is  fre- 
quently enhanced  by  the  songs  of  amateur  cantators 
and  cantatrices,  and  the  strains  of  essayists,  who, 
though  they  are  not  highly-gifted  votaries  of  Apollo, 
are  listened  to  with  good  humour  and  complacency, 
and  generally,  with  or  without  desert,  rewarded  with 
applause. 

Sometimes,  at  these  supper-tables,  talented  and  ra- 
tionally-disposed minds  exchange,  reciprocate,  and  dis- 
seminate learned  lore ;  but,  be  the  mood  what  it  may, 
conversation,  singing,  good  eating,  and  as  good  drink- 
ing, are  the  constant  adjuncts  of  the  Everton  suppers 
under  consideration,  where  cankered  care  never  dares 
to  intrude,  and  even  old  father  Time  seems  bribed  to 
stand  still ;  the  sly  old  rogue,  however,  moves  onward, 
as  the  guests  discover,  when,  at  long-last,  the  reluc- 
tant and  lingering  question  is  put,  "How  goes  the 
enemy  ?  "  or,  in  other  words,  "  What's  the  hour  ?  " 

L 


146  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

On  the  evenings  of  routs,  and  of  set  supperings, 
at  Everton,  cards  are  almost  invariably  introduced; 
the  game  of  whist  is  then  generally  played  by  the 
adults,  especially  by  the  males;  whilst  the  ladies, 
for  the  most  part,  particularly  those  of  a  certain 
age,  prefer  that  of  quadrille,  played,  almost  without 
exception,  in  the  improved  way,  under  the  name  of 
preference,  and  occasionally,  but  very  rarely,  in  that 
still  more  advanced  stage  of  complexity,  called 
mogul. 

The  young  people  of  Everton,  of  both  sexes,  are 
not  over  much  addicted  to  card-playing;  and  when 
they  do  sit  down  to  cards,  it  is  generally  to  play  at 
what  are  called  round-games,  such  as  loo,  pope, 
speculation,  intrigue-and-matrimony,  camat,  com- 
merce, &c.  The  younger  branches  of  the  Everton 
gentry  are  not  averse  to  indulge  occasionally  in  the 
good  old  romping  sports  of  blind-man-buff,  hunt-the- 
slipper,  hide-and-seek,  tick-and-touch-wood,  &c. ; 
and  are  delighted  to  enter  into  the  more  roguish 
games  of  forfeit.  Ah !  who  are  there  that  cannot  with 
delight  call  to  mind  the  joy,  the  pleasure,  the  happy 
carelessness,  and  the  primitive  innocence  of  those  days, 
when  they  themselves  participated  in  such  sports? 
Can  they  repress  the  sigh  of  regret  that  such  enjoy- 
ments are  for  them  no  more?  But  although  from 
the  adult  advanced  in  life,  from  the  aged,  and  from 
the  infirm,  such  innocent,  sportive  joys  are  withheld, 
let  them  still  rejoice  and  be  glad  that  their  children, 
and  children's  children,  can  enjoy  and  revel  in  those 


A  SKETCH.  147 

recreations  which  they,  in  their  youthful  days,  thought 
so  ecstatic. 

Of  the  snug,  family,  and  friendly  dinner  parties, 
on  a  small  scale,  or  of  the  cosy,  comfortahle  tete-a- 
tetes  of  feeding  friends  and  acquaintances,  who  often 
meet  at  Everton,  little  need  be  told.  On  such  occa- 
sions comfort,  happiness,  pleasure,  and  content  are 
generally  the  attendants  and  servers-up  of  excellent 
nutritive  dishes,  or  of  tempting  tid-bits,  that  prove 
exquisite  flavourers  to  the  juice  of  the  grape,  the  alco- 
holic cordial,  the  nectar,  brewed  with  acid  and  dulce, 
dashed  with  Farintosh,  and  the  wholesome  and  invigo- 
rating beverage  extracted  from  British  fountains,  with 
the  aid  and  instrumentality  of  Sir  John  Barleycorn. 

Breakfast  parties  are  rare,  and  scarcely  ever  given 
at  Everton,  except  on  the  mornings  of  wedding-days; 
but  set  and  formal  large  dinner  parties  are  as  frequent 
as  may  be  desired. 

Dinner  parties  are,  however,  the  gentlemen's  scenes 
of  glory  -,  the  fair  sex,  at  such  times,  are  not  in  their 
element,  unless,  indeed,  it  be  the  bold  woman  who 
loves  to  laugh  loud,  and  to  hob-nob  with  all  who 
challenge  her  to  quaff  the  "rosy  cup ;  "  it  is  only  the 
least  amiable  of  the  sex  who  can  enjoy,  with  a  zest, 
a  crowded  dinner  party's  operations.  But  thanks 
to  morality,  decorum,  and  virtue !  the  dames  of  Ever- 
ton are  more  given  to  tea  than  to  toasts;  to  soiree 
badinages  than  to  banquetings ;  and,  in  fine,  to  pru- 
dent and  rational  pleasantry  than  to  pampering  their 
appetites  with  the  best  gifts  of  Apicius  or  Bacchus. 


148  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

Many  ladies  of  Everton,  to  gratify  their  lords,  do 
the  honours,  and  go  through  the  arduous  duties,  of  a 
crowded  dinner  table ;  hut  such  efforts  are  generally 
tributes  to  conjugal  affection  and  duty,  rather  than 
effusions  of  display,  or  ventures  in  quest  of  satisfaction 
or  delight.  Seeing  that  in  every  library,  and  in  every 
bookseller's  shop,  we  meet  with  ponderous  tomes  on 
"Cookery  made  easy,"  it  need  not  be  stated  here 
what  viands  grace  the  dinner  tables  of  the  Everton 
gentry  in  general,  who  feast  and  feed  according  to  the 
custom  of  fashionable  society,  the  particulars  of  which 
Kitchener,  Ude,  and  Co.  may,  and  if  consulted,  must 
and  will,  inform  the  reader.  At  this  epoch,  it  is  the 
custom  of  the  ladies  of  Everton  to  retire  at  an  early 
hour  from  the  dining  saloon,  leaving  the  gentlemen 
to  politics  and  Port  nine.  Ah,  no  !  honest  plain  Port 
is  now  almost  banished  from  the  tables  of  the  present 
luxurious  Englishmen;  fanciful  French  wines  have 
now  become  the  bibulous  favourites  of  John  Bull,  or 
rather  of  the  gentlefolk  of  John  Bull's  family ;  John 
himself,  and  his  unsophisticated  branches,  are  wise 
enough  still  to  love  the  good,  sound,  bracing  juice  of 
Portugal's  grape,  despite  of  the  shewy  sparkles  which, 
in  French  wines,  deceive  all  the  senses  but  that  of 
sight. 

The  secrets  of  the  seraglio  are  not  better  kept  than 
are  those  of  the  ladies  who  assemble  in  the  drawing- 
room  immediately  after  dinner ;  in  due  time,  however, 
the  female  divan  bring  their  confabulations  to  a  close; 
coffee  is  announced  to  the  lords  of  creation,  and  then, 


A  SKETCH.  149 

in  most  cases,  the  sexes  again  assemble ;  some  of  the 
gentlemen,  it  is  true,  love  to  linger  with  their  beloved 
bottles,  but  most  of  the  youngsters,  and  all  sober- 
minded  men,  quit  at  the  earliest  summons  to  join  the 
ladies ;  some  solely  for  the  ladies'  sake,  some  to  avoid 
a  debauch,  some  to  escape  the  host's  commands  of 
fill !  fill !  and  drink !  drink !  "  drink  deeper  still !  " 
and  some  to  propitiate  Cupid  and  Hymen.  In  the 
evenings  of  a  dinner-day  at  Everton,  on  the  reassem- 
bling of  the  sexes  in  the  drawing-room,  the  employ- 
ments and  occupations  of  host,  hostess,  and  guests, 
are  most  diffusely  diversified.  On  the  removal  of  the 
coffee  service,  music  is  frequently  introduced,  to 
which,  perhaps,  some  few  lend  an  attentive  ear;  but 
the  generality  are  more  inclined  to  loquacity — the 
gentlemen,  moved  by  the  powerful  potations  they 
have  taken,  the  ladies  by  instinct;  and,  it  is  well 
known,  your  lovers  of  loquacity  are  little  solicitous  to 
enjoy  the  "  concord  of  sweet  sounds."  The  charms 
and  delights  of  music,  therefore,  on  the  evenings  of 
such  days,  are  but  too  often  "wasted  on  the  desert 
air : "  but  not  so  the  tactics  of  flirtation ;  its  ma- 
noeuvres are  regularly  performed;  whilst  inflexible 
prudes  look  on  and  darken  their  lovely  features 
with  cold,  constrained,  and  solemn  airs,  generally 
masking  their  real  wishes  and  desires  with  fictitious 
frowns. 

Cupid  is  often  very  busy  on  such  evenings;  he 
delights  to  keep  up  a  brisk  fire  on  the  hearts  of  the 
young,  aye,  and  pours  volleys  of  darts  into  the  bosoms 


150  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

of  the  more  aged,  who  have  retired  from  the  temple 
of  Bacchus  to  visit  the  shrine  of  Venus. 

Affianced  lovers  will  often,  on  such  occasions,  steal 
the  opportunity  to  whisper  certain  tender  sentences ; 
half-formed  attachments  wax  stronger,  and  bashful- 
ness  inclines  to  grow  hold;  for  wine  works  strange 
metamorphoses  in  a  bashful  lover's  brain;  it  is,  indeed, 
generally  found  that  the  bottle  can  give  courage  to 
the  faint  heart,  and  eloquence  to  the  timid  tongue; 
therefore,  let  young  ladies  take  good  note,  and  bear 
well  in  mind,  that  as  "  in  vino  veritas,"  so  may  they 
expect  to  hear  the  unadorned  and  honest  truth,  from 
the  lips  of  their  admirers,  on  the  evening  of  a  dinner- 
day. 

It  only  now  remains  to  sum  up  the  ways  of  ending 
a  dinner-party's  amusements  at  Everton,  by  stating, 
that  sometimes  a  merry  dance  ends  a  merry  day. 

To  the  list  of  the  in-door  amusements  and  recreative 
employments  of  the  gentry  of  Everton,  must  be  added 
the  game  of  billiards — billiard-tables  being  now  esta- 
blished in  many  private  houses  at  Everton.  To  tliis 
game  may  be  added  those  of  chess,  trou-madam,  baga- 
telle, draughts,  backgammon,  and  others.  Many  a 
fascinating  fair  one  of  the  township,  by  adroitly  en- 
gaging her  husband,  brother,  or  other  relative  of  the 
roving  sex,  in  games  at  backgammon,  cribbage,  pic- 
quet,  &c.,  keeps  forging  fresh  links  for  that  chain  of 
blandishments  with  which  she  binds  the  strongly- 
inclined-to-be  rover  to  "  Home,  sweet  home." 

These  remarks  on  the  manners,  customs,  &c.,  of 


A  SKETCH.  151 

the  people  of  Everton,  must  now  be  brought  to  a 
close,  by  stating  that  there  are  many  families  in  the 
township  devoted  to  serious  studies  and  pursuits; 
the  members  of  such  families  frequently  meet  in  a 
neighbourly  and  friendly  manner.  At  such  meetings, 
time  is  generally  employed  in  rational  conversation, 
in  mutual  intercourse  of  sentiment,  and  in  pious, 
learned,  or  moral  discussions  :  the  younger  members 
find  advantage  and  amusement  in  putting  together 
dissected  maps;  playing  with  moral  conversation  cards; 
providing  for  the  charitable  bazaars;  constructing 
fanciful  toys  and  useful  nick-nacks,  wherewith  the 
saloons  of  the  wealthy  are  embellished ;  and  lastly, 
though  not  least  in  importance,  in  listening  to  the 
wisdom  of  their  elders, — in  which  occupations  the  utile 
and  the  dulce  are  nicely  blended.  These,  and  many 
other  employments  of  a  similar  nature,  offer  high 
advantages  and  enjoyments,  as  well  as  pastime  and 
pleasure,  pure  and  satisfactory,  to  the  moral  and  well 
instructed  children  of  the  township. 

If  this  copious  section,  now  brought  to  a  close, 
need  further  apology  or  defence,  it  must  be  briefly 
made  in  the  poet's  words,  who  states  that — "  the  pro- 
per study  of  mankind  is  man." 


SECTION  VII. 


DESCRIPTIVE  AND 

GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS 

ON  THE  SUBDIVIDED  PROPERTIES  OR  LOCALITIES  OF 
EVERTON;  INTERSPERSED  WITH  BRIEF  BIOGRAPHICAL 
SKETCHES,  AND  REMARKS. 


IT  is  too  much  the  custom  of  those  who  draw  up 
historical  accounts  to  confine  themselves  to  general 
matter,  and  prominent  events;  presuming  this,  it 
certainly  may  not  be  deemed  blameable,  when  authors 
or  compilers  make  stepping  stones  of  minute  circum- 
stances, by  which  their  readers  may  be  led,  step  by 
step  as  it  were,  to  become  clearly  and  intimately  ac- 
quainted with  the  subject  matter  in  hand ;  and  it  is  the 
minute  and  variegated  parts  and  passages  of  historical 
contexts  which  soften  their  characteristic  dryness; 
the  view,  therefore,  that  is  taken  in  this  section,  of 
men  and  things,  will  be  close,  minute,  and  familiar. 
Next  to  veracity,  in  historical  essays,  is  variety;  it 
is  this  which  grafts  amusement  on  instruction,  and 
applies  equally  to  this  humble  local  treatise,  as  to 
historical  narratives  of  magnitude.  In  furtherance  of 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  153 

this  view,  the  reader  is  invited  to  accompany  the 
author  in  his  travel  over  the  township  of  Everton,  or 
rather  over  the  map,  which  is  affixed  to  this  work. 

The  outline  of  the  map  above  alluded  to  was  con- 
structed about  forty  years  ago,  that  is,  in  or  about  the 
year  1790,  and  is  now  presented,  with  many  altera- 
tions and  amendments,  and  in  a  far  more  explicit 
shape.  This  map  is  not  introduced  or  recommended 
to  the  reader  on  account  of  its  possessing  any  peculiar 
accuracy  beyond  other  maps ;  for,  indeed,  it  is  owned 
that,  of  all  the  maps  of  Everton  which  have  yet  been 
drawn  up,  the  palm  must  be  yielded  to  the  one  pub- 
lished by  Mr.  Sherwood,  in  the  year  1821.  Mr. 
Sherwood's  valuable  map  of  the  township  is  a  masterly 
work,  and,  in  a  great  degree,  free  from  fault ;  yet  the 
omission  of  the  measurements  of  the  enclosures  of 
gardens,  &c.,  &c.,  may  be  deemed  a  defect  of  some 
importance.  But  it  is  preferred  to  introduce  the 
ground-work  of  the  map  of  1790  into  this  work, 
principally,  because  it  affords  the  opportunity,  by  such 
a  line  of  reference,  to  shew  the  manifold  and  great 
changes  which  a  few  years  have  brought  about  in  the 
property  and  appearance  of  the  township. 

Having  already  given,  from  the  most  authentic 
records  extant,  a  brief  outline  of  the  soil  and  seign- 
orage  of  Everton,  from  the  earliest  periods  to  the 
present  time,  a  closer  and  more  comprehensive  view 
will  now  be  taken,  in  which  the  several  and  separate 
properties,  or  localities,  of  the  township  will  be 
minutely  and  expansively  examined ;  a  view  not 


154  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

merely  and  solely  descriptive,  hut  which  will  embrace 
and  connect  minute  description  with  diffuse  observa- 
tion; a  sort  of  analysis,  as  it  were,  of  both  matter  and 
mankind  in  Everton :  the  reader  may,  therefore,  ex- 
pect to  find  his  walk  over  the  township  plenteously 
strewed  with  remarks,  pertinent  and  appropriate  to 
the  subjects  discussed. 

In  the  histories  of  empires,  the  most  celebrated 
figurantes,  and  the  most  prominent  national  transac- 
tions only,  can  be  placed;  but  in  a  local  historical 
essay,  there  is  room  to  exhibit  a  great  part  of  the 
community  separately  and  individually ;  where 
events,  however  humble,  are  seldom  deemed  devoid 
of  interest :  it  is  therefore  intended  to  graft  on  the 
descriptive  context,  numerous  and  brief  biographical 
sketches, — connecting  the  biographical  matter,  as  ap- 
propriately as  possible,  with  the  several  localities,  as 
they  pass  under  consideration. 

When  youth  are  instructed  in  the  art  of  drawing, 
they  are  taught,  in  delineating  the  human  face,  to 
divide  the  visage  into  sections,  by  which,  correctness 
and  intimacy  with  the  subject  in  hand  are  amply  and 
facilely  obtained.  Copying,  in  some  measure,  this 
simple  yet  efficacious  plan,  the  township  is  nominally 
divided  into  nine  distinct  and  separate  districts  or 
divisions;  those  districts  or  divisions  are  again 
divided  by  the  regular  black  lines  into  proper  appor- 
tional  parts  or  spaces,  which  distinctly  point  out 
and  delineate  the  shape  and  size  of  each  proprietor's 
proportions,  and  the  several  and  distinct  possessions, 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  155 

throughout  the  entire  township;  for  the  sake  of 
conciseness  those  subdivisions  are  named  localities. 
To  elucidate  the  plan  further,  to  each  proprietor  a 
figure  is  appropriated;  so  that  when  a  proprietor 
owns  more  than  one  locality,  each  and  all  the  loca- 
lities of  such  proprietor  will  he  markedwith  a  figure 
or  figures,  uniform  and  alike,  as  the  case  shall  de- 
mand; and  again,  the  different  localities  of  each 
individual  proprietor  may  he  distinguished  by  the 
italic  letters  subjoined  to  the  figures.  This  mode 
of  treating  separately  and  individually,  and  in  many 
cases  minutely,  the  localities  of  the  township,  may  be, 
perhaps,  considered  somewhat  precise;  but  the  method 
has  the  advantage  of  perspicuity,  in  a  high  degree, 
and  affords,  to  all  persons  concerned  and  interested 
in  the  affairs  and  property  of  Everton,  a  facility  of 
reference,  which  it  is  hoped  will  atone,  in  a  great 
measure,  if  not  altogether,  for  the  formal,  business-like 
manner  of  the  plan  adopted. 

Everton  is  a  compact  parcel  of  land,  and,  as  the 
map  shews,  pretty  nearly  a  square :  for  convenience 
of  description,  as  has  been  before  stated,  the  township 
is  marked  out  and  divided  on  the  map  into  nine  dis- 
tricts ;  and  as  the  north  is  the  prime  or  principal  of 
the  cardinal  points  of  the  compass,  to  the  north  dis- 
trict of  Everton  is  conceded  the  precedence  in  these 
observations. 

NORTH  DISTRICT. 

The  north  district  of  Everton  is  bounded  on  the 


156  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

west  by  St.  Domingo-lane ;  on  the  south  by  Mere- 
lane  ;  on  the  east  by  part  of  Hangfield-lane,  and  by 
part  of  Beacon-lane,  and  Sleeper' s-hill ;  and  on  the 
north  by  Bronte-lane  and  Walton  Cop. 

In  the  year  1 790,  the  whole  of  this  district  was  the 
property  of  two  individuals :  that  portion  of  it  marked 
6,  a,  (being  the  northernmost  extremity  of  Everton, 
and  separated  from  the  other  parts  of  the  township  by 
Walton-breck-lane,  and  a  short  lane  at  the  west  end 
.of  the  great  Sleeper,)  belonged,  at  that  time,  to 
R.  Hey  wood,  Esq.  This  spot  is  the  north-west  part 
of  the  ancient  Sleeper' s-hill,  a  name  by  which  this 
and  two  adjacent  localities  on  the  east  of  it  were 
known  from  time  immemorial  \  and  by  that  name  is 
this  small  region  or  portion  of  Everton  designated  in 
a  map  constructed  about  the  year  1710. 

It  is  said  that  the  person  who  first  enclosed  or 
reclaimed  the  lot  of  land  marked  6,  a,  from  the 
common  or  waste,  was  a  shoemaker;  from  which 
circumstance  the  place  acquired  the  by-name  of 
"  Cobbler's  Close  :  "  but  the  name  was  discontinued 
after  Thomas  Barton,  Esq.  purchased  the  locality, 
and  gave  it  that  of  "  Pilgrim,"  a  name  which  took 
its  rise  from  some  transaction  or  agency  in  the 
disposal  of  a  valuable  prize,  captured  in  the  West 
Indies,  during  the  French  revolutionary  war,  by  a 
letter  of  marque  of  Liverpool,  belonging  to  Joseph 
Birch,  Esq.,  M.P.  called  the  Pilgrim.  Mr.  Barton 
was  a  wealthy  merchant  of  Barbadoes  and  Liverpool, 
of  whom  it  is  not  necessary  to  say  more,  than 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  157 

that  he  raised  himself  by  talent  and  industry,  from  a 
humble  station,  to  one  of  great  respectability  and 
opulence.  After,  or  just  before  his  demise,  Pilgrim 
became  the  property  of  his  brother,  the  late  highly 
respectable  Sir  William  Barton,  Knight,  long  an 
eminent  merchant  of  Liverpool,  who  sold  the  pre- 
mises to  James  Atherton,  Esq. 

The  entire  locality  6,  a,  was  purchased  from  Mr. 
Atherton,  about  fifteen  years  ago,  by  the  present 
owner  and  occupier,  Samuel  Woodhouse,  Esq.,  who 
took  down  the  old  dwelling,  &c.,  and  erected  the 
elegant  mansion  which  embellishes  his  villa ;  he  also 
changed  the  name  of  the  place  to  that  of  Bronte ;  the 
origin  of  which  name  is  connected  with  an  estate  or 
place  in  the  Mediterranean,  from  which  the  title  of 
the  immortal  Nelson,  as  Duke  of  Bronte,  was  taken. 

Mr.  Woodhouse  has  been  also  one  of  fortune's 
favorites ;  he  resided  for  many  years  with  his  brothers 
on  the  shores  of  the  Mediterranean,  where  they  were 
engaged  in  commercial  pursuits,  on  a  scale  of  great 
magnitude,  in  which  they  were  very  prosperous. 
Samuel  Woodhouse,  Esq.  of  Bronte,  returned  in 
affluent  circumstances  to  his  native  land,  and  fixed 
his  residence  at  Everton,  where,  in  the  autumn  of 
life,  he  seems  to  enjoy  every  advantage  that  fortune 
has  placed  at  his  command.  Mr.  Woodhouse  may  be 
considered  a  scion  of  an  Everton  family-stock,  for  his 
maternal  connexions  were,  and  long  had  been,  nobles 
of  Everton  ; — his  mother  was  a  Miss  Hey  es,  co-heiress 
to  some  valuable  Everton  property.  Mr.  Woodhouse 


158  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

has  not  placed  himself  prominently  in  any  of  the  pub- 
lic affairs  of  Everton  ;  he  has,  however,  been  in  office, 
and  shewn  that,  if  necessary,  he  has  both  talent  and 
inclination  to  render  good  service  to  the  township. 

With  the  exception  of  the  Bronte,  or  as  it  was 
formerly  called,  the  Pilgrim  villa,  and  the  mere,  or 
public  watering  pond,  the  entire  of  the  north  district 
of  Everton  was,  in  the  year  1790,  the  property  of 
John  Sparling,  Esq.,  a  merchant  of  Liverpool,  of  emi- 
nence and  long-standing,  and  was  his  St.  Domingo 
estate,  of  which  many  particulars  have  already  been 
given  in  the  section  of  "  Property."  But  it  may  be 
relevant  to  enter  more  at  large  into  the  history  of  tin's 
estate,  and  briefly  to  treat  of  its  founder,  and  other 
proprietors. 

George  Campbell,  Esq.  was  the  founder  of  the 
St.  Domingo  estate,  who,  on  the  23d  August,  1757, 
made  the  first  of  his  purchases  of  those  Everton  lands 
which  originally  formed  the  estate.  From  time  to 
time  he  made  other  purchases  of  contiguous  lands, 
which  he  added  to  his  St.  Domingo  estate.  The 
spot  Mr.  Campbell  chose  for  his  place  of  residence, 
was  at  the  south  end  of  the  patch  of  land,  or  locality, 
which  is  marked  in  the  map  2,  i,  where  a  house  was 
pleasantly  situated;  it  was  separated  from  the  main 
road  by  a  deep,  triangular-shaped  lawn,  the  sides  of 
which  were  bordered  with  trees  and  shrubs,  and  the 
front  protected  by  neat  stoops  and  chains.  The  house 
was  not  distant  more  than  bow-shot  from  the  old 
Beacon,  consequently  it  commanded  extensive  and 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  159 

charming  sea  and  land  prospects.  There  were  many 
convenient  outbuildings  attached  to  the  mansion,  one 
of  which  stood  in  the  east,  separated  from  the  dwelling 
by  Beacon-lane.  The  building  was,  in  reality,  a 
stable,  but  a  stranger  would  have  rather  inclined  to 
consider  it  a  place  in  which  religious  rites  were 
performed ;  for,  to  indulge  some  whim,  Mr.  Campbell 
had  constructed  the  building  (particularly  the  windows 
of  it)  to  resemble  places  dedicated  to  divine  worship. 
Whether  Mr.  Campbell  meant  any  thing  or  nothing 
by  the  indulgence  of  his  whim,  tradition  doth  not 
very  clearly  elucidate  \  but  there  is  strong  reason  to 
surmise  that  a  spice  of  improper  satire,  or  some- 
thing still  more  reprehensible,  dictated  the  project. 

Mr.  Campbell  gave  the  name  of  St  Domingo  to 
this  estate,  in  commemoration  of  a  piece  of  good 
fortune  which  befel  him,  when  one  of  his  vessels 
captured  a  rich  ship  from  the  Island  of  St.  Domingo, 
in  the  West  Indies.  Of  all  the  anecdotes,  connected 
with  Mr.  Campbell,  which  have  been  collected  in  the 
research  of  data  for  this  work,  only  one  will  be 
inserted  here. 

It  is  said  that  in  the  year  1745,  Mr.  Campbell 
was  placed  at  the  head  of  an  irregular  body  of  men, 
hastily  raised  in  Liverpool,  for  military  service,  to 
check  the  advance  of  the  rebels,  under  the  Pretender : 
Mr.  Campbell's  company  was  ordered  to  march  for 
Manchester,  but  made  no  further  progress  than  War- 
rington ;  but  even  in  that  short  campaign,  one  adven- 
ture, worthy  of  Cervantes'  pen,  fell  to  their  share. 


160  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

It  happened  that  in  the  way  of  Campbell's  warriors 
lay  a  flock  of  geese;  mistaking  them,  at  first,  for 
fellow-militants,  Campbell's  heroes  prepared  for  their 
maiden  encounter  in  the  field  of  Mars; — some  say 
that  their  hearts  palpitated,  others,  that  worse  things 
happened  ;  but  we  will  let  these  rumours  pass.  On 
a  near  approach,  the  enemy  was  found  to  be  a 
cackling  cavalcade,  more  disposed  to  flight  than  fight. 
The  reasoning  bipeds,  marching  onwards,  soon  com- 
mingled with  the  main  body  of  the  feathered  tribe  of 
instinct,  upon  which  the  former  became  strongly 
disposed  to  declare  war,  and  to  commence  slaughter- 
ous operations. 

Now  Campbell's  men,  if  they  were  not  the  most 
valiant  of  soldiers,  proved  themselves  deserving  of  the 
character  of  diplomatists  of  the  first  rate,  and  most 
admirable  machiavelians.  A  parley  was  entered  into, 
in  which  Campbell's  heroes  demanded  of  the  geese, 
whether  they  were  willing  to  accompany  them  on 
their  march? — the  geese  hissed! — a  sound  so  per- 
fectly in  unison  with,  and  similar  to,  the  affirmative 
monosyllable,  yes,  that  eveiy  man  of  Campbell's 
company,  to  spare  their  new  friends  the  fatigue  of 
marching,  "bagged  his  bird."  Onward  the  allies 
went,  until,  at  halting  time,  the  descendants  of  the 
saviours  of  Rome  found  themselves  placed  at  the  post 
of  danger,  as  hunger's  forlorn  hope ;  in  short,  they 
were  devoted  to  all  the  horrors  of  the  pot  and  spit. 

Thus,  under  a  saving  clause  which  would  have 
done  honour  to  the  ingenuity  of  the  ancient  Mr. 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  161 

Touchstone,  did  Campbell's  warriors  acliieve  their 
first  and  only  warlike  enterprize.  Their  fears  of 
future  consequences  were  stilled  by  conscience  whis- 
pering unto  them,  that  the  recording  angel  would 
register  the  peccadillo  as  a  venial  sin,  and  place  it  on 
the  list  of  other  such  statesmanlike — pardon  the  slip — 
warlike  offences.  As  to  worldly  consequences,  Camp- 
bell's men  well  knew  that  the  state  of  the  times  was 
their  safeguard.  And  now,  gentle  reader,  take  this 
anecdote  in  the  sense  it  is  meant  to  be  conveyed — 
that  is,  as  a  philippic  against  war  in  general. 

The  proprietors  who  possessed  the  St.  Domingo 
estate  between  the  days  of  Mr.  Campbell  and  those  of 
Mr.  Sparling  were  non-residents,  or  only  temporarily 
resided  at  Everton;  therefore,  if  a  sketch  of  their 
biography  be  required,  the  annals  of  Liverpool  must 
furnish  it. 

The  context,  then,  at  once  passes  on  to  John  Spar- 
ling, Esq.,  a  common-council-man  of  Liverpool,  and 
a  merchant  of  that  port,  of  the  highest  class  in  his 
day:  prosperous  and  prudent,  he  realised  a  vast 
fortune,  and  wisely  retired,  in  the  wane  of  life,  to  his 
beautiful  villa  at  Everton;  which,  in  the  year  1793, 
he  improved  and  embellished,  by  taking  down  the  old 
mansion,  and  at  some  few  hundred  yards  north  of  its 
site,  erecting  the  most  splendid  edifice  in  the  whole 
township,  St.  Domingo-house;  but  at  an  expense 
considerably  beyond  his  calculation,  the  recollection 
of  which  caused  him  some  sighs  of  real  regret,  if  not 

M 


162  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

of  sorrow.  But  Mr.  Sparling  was  desirous  to  tempt 
his  heirs  and  successors  to  reside  at  a  spot  to  which 
he  was  himself  much  attached,  and  took  great  pains 
in  his  testamentary  clauses  to  bind  his  heirs  to  keep 
possession  of  the  property;  and,  should  they  be  unwil- 
ling to  reside  at  the  place  themselves,  so  highly  did  he 
hold  and  regard  the  name  of  Sparling,  that  he  directed 
them  to  give  a  preference  to  any  tenant  of  that  name, 
who  might  offer  to  take  the  St.  Domingo  estate.  But 
testamentary  restrictions,  it  seems,  can  be  removed; 
the  last  desires  of  testators  are  not  always  complied 
with ;  as  was  the  case  with  Mr.  Sparling.  An  act  of 
parliament  was  procured,  under  the  powers  of  which 
the  St.  Domingo  estate  was  sold  and  alienated  alto- 
gether from  the  Sparling  family ;  a  measure,  it  is 
true,  that  did  no  injury  to  the  surviving  heirs, — on  the 
contrary,  they  were  considered  benefited ;  but  thereby 
the  fondly  cherished  intentions  and  desires  of  the  last 
testator  were  posthumously  destroyed. 

Soon  after  the  late  Mr.  Sparling  erected  St.  Do- 
mingo-house, he  constructed  a  tomb,  in  Walton 
church-yard,  so  as  to  be  visible  from  the  windows  of 
his  mansion ;  no  doubt  calculating  that  such  an  object 
would  cause  generation  after  generation  of  his  family, 
in  their  frequent  glances  towards  so  impressive  a  me- 
mento, to  recur  to  the  memory  of  the  individual  who 
had,  in  an  exemplary  manner,  procured  them  so 
stately,  valuable,  and  delightful  a  place  of  residence, 
as  was  the  villa,  or  estate,  of  St.  Domingo ; — but  the 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  163 

sequel  has  added  one  more  proof  to  the  many  on 
record  of  the  evanescent  and  unstable  nature  of  our 
trust  and  confidence  in  all  human  transactions ! 

There  were  some  other  remarkable  clauses  in  the 
late  Mr.  Sparling's  will,  but  it  is  not  necessary  to 
notice  them  further  than  to  say,  that  they  were  the 
emanations  of  a  pure  mind,  devoted  to  the  religion  of 
his  progenitors.  It  is  said  Mr.  Sparling  purchased  the 
St.  Domingo  estate  with  the  fruits  of  a  fortunate  spe- 
culation in  the  funds;  but  independently  of  any  such 
stock-jobbing  transactions,  he  was  a  very  wealthy  man. 
Mr.  Sparling  contemplated  the  construction  of  Queen's 
Dock,  in  Liverpool,  but  subsequently  disposed  of  his 
interest  therein  to  the  dock-trust;  Sparling-street, 
which  is  near  to  Queen's  Dock,  owes  its  name  to  him. 

Mr.  Sparling  was  elected  mayor  of  Liverpool  in 
the  year  1 790.  During  his  mayoralty,  he  convened 
a  common-hall;  but  none  of  his  successors  have 
shown  any  inclination  to  follow  so  noble  an  example. 

Mr.  Sparling  was  one  of  the  last  of  the  old  school 
of  Liverpool  merchants;  when  he  attended  'Change, 
he  was  drest  with  precision  and  care,  generally  wear- 
ing a  gold-laced  waistcoat,  and  of  course,  as  was  the 
mode  in  his  day,  a  three-cornered,  or  cocked-hat :  he 
was  one  of  those  wealthy  and  upright  traders  of 
Britain,  of  the  eighteenth  century,  whose  attire  and 
conduct  were  on  a  par,  so  far  as  plainness,  precision, 
regularity,  and  substantial  worth  will  suffer  the  com- 
parison to  be  earned. 

Independently  of  the  erection  of  the  mansion-house, 


164  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

on  the  St.  Domingo  estate,  the  late  Mr.  Sparling 
much  improved  its  general  appearance,  hy  planting 
trees,  huilding  good  stone  fences,  and  in  various  other 
ways,  until  at  length  the  property  became  every  thing 
that  a  retired  gentleman  and  amateur  agriculturist 
could  wish.  In  one  point,  however,  he  was  defi- 
cient, he  neglected  the  construction  of  paved  roads, 
by  which  his  residence  would  have  been  commo- 
diously  approached;  for  in  his  day,  the  estate  was 
surrounded  and  intersected  by  sandy,  cart-rutted 
lanes;  nor  are  many  of  the  roads  in  its  immediate 
neighbourhood  yet  paved. 

The  principal  of  the  St.  Domingo  estate  consisted 
of  two  large,  triangular-shaped  patches  of  land,  which 
may,  for  distinction's  sake,  be  termed  the  western  and 
eastern  triangles.  St.  Domingo-house  stands  on  the 
western  triangle,  but  the  lands  of  this  triangle,  which 
once  formed  one  and  the  same  property  with  the  man- 
sion, are  now  divided  and  subdivided  into  many  parts ; 
in  some  of  which  architectural  operations  are  now 
carrying  on  with  such  rapidity,  that  a  description  of 
their  appearance  to-day,  would  not  be  a  picture  of  the 
plan  a  month  hence.  The  north  boundary  of  this 
west  triangle  is  marked  on  the  map  2,  a,  and  2,  5, 
where  some  half  a  dozen  dwellings  and  outbuildings 
are  erected ;  on  one  of  which  there  is  marked  "  North 
View :  "  but  from  that  north  boundary,  to  the  lodge 
of  St.  Domingo-house  in  the  south,  the  lands  are  as 
yet  uncovered  with  buildings,  except  an  old  barn, 
which  was  crowded  with  spectators,  on  the  12th 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  165 

August,  1812,  when  Mr.  Sadler's  balloon  was  inflated 
at  the  Pilgrim  (now  Bronte)  villa. 

The  fields  and  the  lawn,  north  of  St.  Domingo- 
house,  are  used  as  pasture  land,  from  whence  crops  of 
hay  are  occasionally  taken ;  extensive  gardens  (one 
cultivated  by  a  nursery-man)  are  in  the  immediate 
south  vicinage  of  the  mansion ;  the  nursery  ground 
is  in  the  tenancy  of  Mr.  Whalley,  an  eminent  seeds- 
man, &c.,  whose  house  is  of  the  oldest  standing  in 
that  line  in  Liverpool.  It  may  be  remarked,  en  pas- 
sant, that  Mr.  Whalley  takes  great  pleasure  in  per- 
mitting visitors,  at  all  reasonable  hours,  to  stroll  in  his 
highly  cultivated  grounds.  South  of  Mr.  Whalley's 
grounds  are  some  unbuilt-on  lots  of  land,  and,  pro- 
ceeding more  southerly,  a  new  street  (Sparling-street) 
bounds  the  vacant  lands  last  named :  this  new  road 
is  a  short  thoroughfare,  which  connects  Beacon-lane 
with  St.  Domingo-lane.  There  are,  at  this  time,  only 
two  cottages  in  Sparling-street,  to  which  pretty  places 
the  appropriate  names  of  Delta  and  Rose  are  given. 
Mr.  Atherton  is,  however,  contemplating  the  erection 
of  a  handsome  range  of  dwellings  on  the  north  side 
of  this  street.  From  Sparling-street  to  the  south 
point  of  the  west  triangle,  the  space  is  occupied,  on 
the  east  side,  by  one  or  two  joiner's  establishments, 
and  a  few  cottages ;  and  on  the  west  side,  by  some 
comfortable,  but  not  extensive  dwellings. 

The  roads  and  avenues  which  border  this  west 
triangle  of  the  ci-devant  St.  Domingo  estate,  were 
some  time  ago  considered  delightful  and  sequestered 


166  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON.  . 

places;  they  were  adapted  to  the  ruminations  of 
philosophers,  or  to  the  seclusion  coveted  by  lovers, 
for  seldom  was  this  charming  retreat  intruded  upon 
by  strangers ;  therefore,  neither  the  philosopher  nor 
the  lover,  who  perchance  stole  into  these  delightful 
avenues,  had  to  fear  the  observations  of  ignorance, 
malice,  and  slander. 

It  has  been  already  stated,  that  W.  P.  Litt,  Esq., 
and  afterwards,  the  late  W.  Ewart,  Esq.,  became 
proprietors  of  the  St.  Domingo  estate,  and  that  Mr. 
Ewart  sold  it  to  the  commissioners  of  the  barrack- 
department  ;  but  the  purchase  was  comprised  in,  and 
confined  to,  this  western  triangle,  very  nearly  the 
whole  of  which  became  the  property  of  the  barrack- 
department.  W.  P.  Litt,  Esq.  was  an  eminent 
merchant  of  Liverpool,  as  he  is  now  of  London,  and 
where  he  at  present  resides ;  he  made  St.  Domingo- 
house  his  domicile  the  greater  part  of  the  time  he  was 
its  proprietor ;  but  the  late  Mr.  Ewart  never  made  it 
his  place  of  abode. 

The  barrack-department  made  little  use  of  their 
Everton  purchase;  nor  was  it  at  all  calculated  for 
their  purposes;  a  truth,  indeed,  of  which  they  were 
apprised  before  the  purchase  was  made,  by  a  deputa- 
tion of  the  inhabitants  of  Everton,  who  endeavoured 
to  dissuade  government  from  a  measure  which  threat- 
ened to  annihilate  all  Everton's  advantages  of  rural 
beauty  and  tranquillity:  the  deputation,  however, 
failed  in  their  object,  and  the  barrack  project  was 
completed.  To  the  people  of  Everton,  the  result 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  167 

proved  of  but  little  annoyance,  whilst  to  Government 
it  was  altogether  unsatisfactory. 

At  length,  the  barrack-department  grew  tired  of 
their  bargain,  and  offered  the  whole  for  sale ;  but  no 
purchaser  offering  for  the  place  in  gross,  the  com- 
missioners had  the  property  divided  into  lots ;  some 
of  which  they  sold  at  public  mail.  Much  of  the  land 
was  long  on  their  hands,  and  the  last  parcel  was  only 
recently  disposed  of;  no  part  of  the  purchase  has  been 
sold  to  advantage.  After  the  sale,  Mr.  Pritchard,  a 
very  respectable  wine-merchant  of  Liverpool,  was  the 
first  to  erect  a  dwelling  upon  a  part  which  he  purchased 
in  the  north-east  corner  or  angle  of  the  triangle. 
Mr.  Pritchard's  house  is  a  neat  and  commodious  place 
of  residence ;  for  a  length  of  time  it  was  somewhat 
lonely,  but  other  houses  are  springing  up  in  the 
west,  so  that  shortly  it  may  have  a  neighbourhood 
populous  enough  to  afford  both  security  and  good 
society.  The  locality  on  which  Mr.  Pritchard's  house 
is  fixed  was  called  "Headless  Cross-field;"  here, 
therefore,  the  cross  must  have  once  stood. 

At  the  north-west  angle  of  this  west  triangle,  Mr. 
Lang  has  recently  erected  some  three  or  four  most 
excellent  houses,  called  North  View,  from  which 
a  marine  prospect  is  obtained,  that  can  scarcely  be 
excelled. 

St.  Domingo-house,  with  a  strip  of  land  on  the 
north  for  a  lawn,  was  sold  by  the  commissioners  for 
barrack  affairs,  to  Messrs.  Sandbach  and  M'Gregor, 
and  has  been  tenanted,  for  a  considerable  time,  by  the 


168  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

very  worthy  Misses  Come,  who  have  established  a 
seminary  there  of  the  first  class,  where  respectable 
young  females  are  received  en  pension,  and  carefully, 
becomingly,  and  usefully  educated, — with  every  ele- 
gant requisite  as  to  taste,  grace,  and  ornament.  It 
is  ventured  further  to  state,  (though  entirely,  and 
only,  on  the  strength  of  the  good  report  the  Misses 
Corrie  have  obtained  by  their  exemplary  conduct) 
that  in  the  care  and  culture  of  young  ladies  com- 
mitted to  their  charge,,  purity  of  mind,  agreeableness 
of  manner  and  person,  and  the  proper  direction  of 
intellect  are  attended  to  most  carefully,  and  in  fine, 
that  nothing  is  neglected  by  them  in  the  education  of 
the  choicest  of  all  a  parent's  treasures — the  fairest,  and 
the  loveliest,  and  the  tenderest  of  creation's  works. 
Of  Prince  William  of  Gloucester's  sojourn  at  St. 
Domingo-house,  notice  will  be  hereafter  taken.  The 
lands  that  are  marked  in  Mr.  Sherwood's  map  as 
belonging  to  the  barrack-department,  have,  since  that 
map  was  published,  been  disposed  of  by  the  com- 
missioners to  Messrs.  M'Gregor  and  Sandbach,  but 
all  of  them  were  afterwards  purchased  by  the  late 
Alexander  M'Gregor,  in  whose  family  the  ownership 
remains. 

The  trustees,  under  the  powers  granted  by  the 
act  of  parliament  relative  to  the  alteration  of  the 
objects  of  the  late  Mr.  Sparling's  will,  sold  the  eastern 
triangle  of  the  St.  Domingo  estate  to  J.  G.  Geller, 
Esq.;  and  soon  after  the  purchase  was  effected,  Mr. 
Geller  erected  on  it  a  most  extensive  and  elegant 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  169 

mansion.  This  handsome,  stately  edifice  stands 
pretty  nearly  in  the  centre  of  the  grounds ;  its  front 
is  constructed  of  a  superior  kind  of  red  brick,  brought 
at  great  extra  cost  from  Manchester ;  but  Mr.  Geller 
was  not  sparing  of  expense  in  the  development  of  his 
taste,  of  which  this  villa  is  a  noble  specimen,  and  is 
sufficiently  and  becomingly  planted  with  young  wood, 
which  is  fast  spreading,  and  will  shortly  shelter  and 
embower  the  mansion  and  out-offices :  a  long  moat 
runs  in  nearly  an  east  and  west  line,  intersecting  and 
irrigating  the  lower  grounds  ;  and  over  this  miniature 
canal,  or  elongated  lake,  are  thrown  light,  fanciful, 
and  useful  bridges.  In  fine,  taken  in  the  whole,  the 
place  may  be  classed  the  very  highest  of  all  Everton's 
villas ;  and  (if  the  extent  of  ground  be  properly  taken 
into  consideration)  it  may  be  deemed  the  most 
picturesque  and  desirable  place  of  residence  of  any 
within  the  circuit  of  half-a-score  miles.  To  this, 
or  very  nearly  to  this,  state  of  perfection,  did  Mr. 
Geller  bring  that  which,  when  he  purchased  the 
estate,  was  only  a  few  acres  of  meadow  land. 

Mr.  Geller  is,  and  long  has  been,  a  highly  respect- 
able merchant  of  Liverpool,  very  extensively  engaged 
in  the  commercial  affairs  of  that  port ;  assiduity  and 
punctuality  seem  to  have  been  his  guides  through  the 
labyrinths  of  commerce ;  he  is  one  of  those  merchant- 
men, by  whose  employment,  and  through  whose 
means,  Liverpool  and  other  lands  reap  great  advan- 
tages. Such  men  fill  the  hives  of  trading  towns  with 
abundance  of  rich  wax  and  honey. 


170  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

After  residing  at  this  beautiful  villa,  named  Mere 
Bank,  for  some  time,  Mr.  Geller  disposed  of  it  to 
William  Myers,  Esq.,  who  has  made  it  his  place  of 
residence  for  a  length  of  time. 

Of  Mr.  Myers,  as  a  public  man,  the  annals  of 
Liverpool  will  treat ;  from  a  tinge  of  reserve  in  his 
manner,  the  biographer  cannot  collect  much  data 
to  descant  upon ;  but  as  a  member  of  the  community 
at  large,  enough  is  seen  and  known  of  him  at  Everton, 
to  sanction  the  statement  of  his  being  a  moral  and 
highly  respectable  gentleman.  Mr.  Myers  seldom 
interferes  with  the  public  affairs  of  Everton. 

The  localities  that  now  form  Mere  Bank  are 
marked  on  the  map  2,  q,  2,  r,  and  2,  s  ;  they  are  all 
enclosed  as  in  a  ring-fence,  containing  in  the  whole 
about  four  acres;  and,  in  all  likelihood,  it  will  be  long, 
very  long,  ere  the  builder  covers  this  land  with 
any  other  architectural  erections  than  such  out-houses 
as  may  be  requisite  for  the  family  occupying  the  villa, 
and  occasional  additions  or  enlargements  to  the  man- 
sion itself. 

Of  the  north  district  of  Everton  there  remains  now 
only  to  notice  the  mere,  or  public  watering  place  for 
cattle.  The  mere  and  its  banks  occupy  the  south-east 
corner,  or  angle,  of  the  north  district  of  Everton ;  it  is 
a  large  sheet  of  water,  and  is,  together  with  its  banks, 
nearly  an  acre  in  extent :  in  most  places  it  is  shallow, 
and  in  no  part  very  deep.  As  the  seasons  are  more 
or  less  wet,  this  piece  of  water  expands  or  contracts 
its  dimensions,  and  sometimes  very  considerably. 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  171 

Were  it  ever  desirable,  some  land  might  be  reclaimed, 
at  a  small  expense,  from  this  watery  expanse ;  indeed, 
there  is  already  a  good  piece  of  terra  firma  embanked 
and  effectually  reclaimed  in  the  north-east,  where  a 
snug  cottage  and  pinfold  are  constructed.  The  cottage 
is  public  property,  and  is  tenanted  by  a  worthy  mason, 
who  is  the  overlooker  or  superintendent  of  the  pinfold; 
it  yields  a  rental  of  £9  9s.  per  annum  to  the  town- 
ship, out  of  which  certain  demands  are  annually  paid, 
amounting  to  £6  8s.  8d., — viz.  Lord's  rent  £5  15s., 
Breck-silver  13s.  4d.,  and  4d.  for  the  acquittance. 
This  arrangement  consolidates  and  simplifies  the  set- 
tlement of  certain  demands  annually  due  to  the  lord 
of  the  manor,  which,  as  is  shown  by  deeds  in  the 
town's  chest,  the  township  is  bound  to  liquidate ;  and 
as  the  lands  become  more  and  more  subdivided,  the 
apportionment  of  each  lot's  liability  becomes  also  more 
minute,  intricate,  and  complex,  even  to  the  extent  of 
causing  perplexity  in  the  adjustment.  The  scheme, 
therefore,  of  thus  raising  the  sum  required  for  the 
lord's  rent,  and  even  more,  in  this  simple  shape  of  a 
single  rental,  is  as  commodious  as  it  is  satisfactory; 
and  if,  in  carrying  the  plan  into  effect,  any  slight  inac- 
curacy arose,  the  good  produced  will  far  more  than 
balance  any  such  trifle.*  Another  excellent  matter 
has  been  spoken  of — which  is,  to  build  a  workhouse 
near,  or  even  adjoining  the  cottage  at  the  mere,  for 
the  use  and  accommodation  of  the  paupers  of  the 
township.  Such  a  step  would  eventually  prove  an 

*  See  a  minute  made  in  the  town's  book  in  the  year  1759. 


172  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

economical  measure ;  for  many  paupers  who  receive 
out-door  relief,  would  forego  their  demands  on  the 
township,  when  they  were  offered  the  alternatives  of — 
no  relief,  or  to  become  in-door  paupers.  At  all  events, 
the  measure  is  worthy  of  cool,  deliberate,  and  early 
consideration. 

NORTH-EAST  DISTRICT. 

The  north-east  district  of  Everton  is  bounded  on 
the  north  by  Walton-cop;  on  the  west  by  part  of 
Hangfield-lane,  Sleeper-hill,  and  part  of  Beacon- 
lane  ;  on  the  east  by  the  lands  of  Walton ;  and  on 
the  south  by  the  Long  Hangfield,  marked  on  the 
map,  3,  e. 

Until  a  few  months  ago,  the  north-east  district  was 
perfectly  pastoral ;  very  lately  there  was  not  a  single 
erection  on  it  to  serve  man  for  a  domicile,  or  the 
beasts  of  the  field  for  shelter ;  it  was  then  altogether 
a  patch  of  pasture  land ;  but  a  few  months  ago  two 
wealthy  persons  of  Everton,  Hugh  James  Sanderson, 
and  George  Johnson,  Esqrs.,  have  made  extensive 
and  adjoining  purchases,  at  the  west  end  of  which 
they  are  now  constructing  three  commodious  man- 
sions. Of  these  gentlemen  more  notice  will  be  taken 
in  the  section  of  the  west  district  of  Everton,  where 
they  reside. 

The  localities  of  the  north-east  district  are  separated, 
as  indeed  are  those  of  the  whole  township,  with  neat, 
well-kept  fences,  hedge-rows,  walls,  and  ditches,  ac- 
cording to  the  several  portions  of  the  properties  of 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  173 

various  individuals.  In  the  year  1790,  this  district 
was  owned  by  five  proprietors;  but  of  the  principal 
part  of  its  past  and  present  owners  it  is  not  necessary 
just  now  to  treat ;  for,  with  the  exception  of  three  of 
them,  they  will  have  other  places  allotted  to  them  in 
these  annals.  One  of  these  exceptions  is  the  late 
Mr.  Birchall,  who  some  say  was  a  publican,  others 
a  dairyman ;  it  may  be  that  he  followed  both 
occupations.  The  Everton  freeholds  which  formerly 
were  his,  have  now  fallen  into  other  hands.  Another 
of  the  exceptions  above  alluded  to  is  the  late  Bamber 
Gascoyne,  Esq. 

It  will  be  found,  in  the  early  pages  of  this  treatise, 
that  the  late  Bamber  Gascoyne,  Esq.  was,  for  a  con- 
siderable period,  and  until  a  few  years  ago,  the  lord 
of  the  manor  and  township  of  Everton;  in  con- 
sequence of  the  marriage  of  his  daughter  and  only 
surviving  child,  those  manorial  rights  became  vested 
in  the  family  of  the  Marquis  of  Salisbury;  and  the 
lands  in  the  township  of  Everton,  which  were  the 
property  of  the  late  B.  Gascoyne,  Esq.,  have  also  gone 
into  the  same  possession.  These  lands,  which  are 
marked  on  the  map  3,  a,  b,  c,  d,  e,f,  and  g,  are  in 
reality  freeholds,  or  lands  of  inheritance,  but  the 
present  proprietor  has  also  power  to  dispose  of  them 
as  copyholds,  he  being  lord  of  the  manor ;  therefore, 
they  might  be  almost  termed  optional  tenure. 

The  other  lands  in  the  township,  similarly  held  by 
the  late  B.  Gascoyne,  Esq.,  as  is  stated  in  the  map 


174  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

of  1790,  have  been  sold  to  diaries  Horsfall,  John 
Mather,  and  William  Earle,  Esqrs. 

It  would  be  superfluous  to  enlarge  on  what  has 
been  already  stated  of  the  Gascoyne  family;  for  its 
high,  respectable,  and  honourable  estate  and  bearing 
in  society,  have  been  so  long,  and  are  still  so  well 
known,  that  they  need  neither  notice  nor  panegyric 
in  these  humble  pages ;  besides,  it  is  in  the  history 
of  Childwall,  that  the  biography  of  the  Gascoynes 
must,  at  some  epoch,  conspicuously  appear.  It  may, 
however,  be  added,  that  deeply  rooted  in  reason  is 
the  hope  which  assures  us  that  the  exalted  connexions 
of  the  Gascoyne  family  will,  by  acts  of  justice, 
courtesy  of  conduct,  and  amenity  of  manner,  continue 
to  conduct  their  manorial  privileges,  and  to  hold  inter- 
course with  their  feudal  tenants,  so  as  to  continue 
entitled  to  receive  that  which,  though  possessed  by 
the  Gascoynes,  cannot  be  bequeathed,  demised,  or 
entailed — the  voluntary  praise,  esteem,  and  respect 
of  the  inhabitants  of  the  manor  of  Everton. 

The  third  and  last  of  the  exceptions  before  noticed, 
is  Christopher  Bullin,  Esq.,  banker,  of  Liverpool, 
who  owns  several  localities  in  this  district.  It  would 
require  much  space  in  these  pages  to  speak  of 
Mr.  Bullin  as  his  desert  warrants  and  demands ;  few 
are  the  lines  that  can  be  devoted  to  each  biographical 
sketch — but  in  one  line  truth  can  say  much ;  and  as 
it  regards  Mr.  Bullin,  truth  says  he  is  of  a  suave  and 
cheerful  disposition,  agreeable  and  gentlemanly,  and 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  175 

in  his  conduct,  both  public  and  private,  courteous  and 
highly  honourable. 

Except  at  the  north  extremity,  this  district  is  a 
flat  plain,  affording  little  of  that  variety  which  is  so 
pleasing  to  the  lover  of  the  picturesque ;  but  from  all 
parts  of  it  a  good  inland  view  is  obtained.  There  is 
little  wood  in  the  entire  district,  except  the  hedge- 
rows. But  if  the  principal  part  of  the  north-east 
district  affords  little  that  is  interesting  to  the  ad- 
mirer of  landscapes,  the  reverse  may  be  said  of  the 
north  extremity,  which  is  a  beautiful  patch  of  land ; 
the  place  is  named  the  Great  Sleeper,  and  is  a  part 
or  parcel  of  the  lands  once  known  by  the  name  of 
Sleeper-hill,  which  was  and  is  still  the  north-east 
boundary  of  Everton. 

The  Great  Sleeper,  or,  as  it  has  been  sometimes 
called,  the  Four  Acre,  is  a  fine  piece  of  ground ;  its 
southern  extremity  is  its  highest  part,  where  it  is 
bordered,  or  bounded,  by  Walton  Breck-lane ;  from 
that  lane,  extending  northward,  the  land  of  the  Great 
Sleeper  forms  a  level  plain  for  a  considerable  distance, 
and  from  that  plain,  in  different  directions,  two  gentle 
slopes  decline  towards  the  lands  of  Walton ;  these 
slopes  present  two  fronts,  the  one  to  the  north,  and 
the  other  to  the  west,  thus  offering  an  uninterrupted 
view  of  the  mouth  of  the  Mersey,  of  the  Irish  sea,  and 
of  the  extensive  plains  which,  commencing  at  the 
sea-side,  run  for  many  miles  into  the  interior — plains 
that  are  daily  becoming  more  interesting,  for  wealthy 
persons  are  constantly  building  extensive,  elegant, 


176  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

and  beautiful  villas  upon  them ;  and  many  other  very 
respectable  persons,  but  whose  banks,  perhaps,  are 
not  quite  so  heavily  furnished,  are  also  erecting  snug, 
convenient,  and  handsome  domiciles,  to  which  they 
diurnally  retire  for  the  night,  when  the  business  of 
the  day  at  Liverpool  is  over ;  or  as  places  of  general 
abode,  when  success  commensurate  with  their  calcula- 
tions or  wishes  has  crowned  their  commercial  efforts. 
Near  to  the  cop  of  the  Great  Sleeper,  in  the  road 
called  Walton-cop,  there  was  constructed  a  beacon 
of  faggots,  which  only  stood  for  some  months,  when, 
about  the  year  1803  or  1804,  some  incendiary,  during 
the  night,  set  it  on  fire,  and  the  pile  was  consumed ; 
• — no  further  evil  ensued. 

The  Little  Sleeper,  or  Sour-longs,  presents  a  most 
extensive  front  to  Walton  Breck-lane ;  a  circumstance 
which  will  materially  enhance  its  value  when  it  shall 
be  required  for  building  purposes,  the  situation  being 
delightful,  promising  to  suit  all  who  may  wish  to 
possess  agreeable  rural  villas. 

EAST  DISTRICT. 

The  east  district  of  Everton  is  a  compact  patch  of 
land,  and  the  only  district  which  is  not  intersected 
with  roads  or  lanes.  This  district  is  bounded  on  the 
west  by  Hangfield-lane ;  on  the  south  by  Breck-lane; 
on  the  east  by  the  lands  of  Walton  Breck;  and  on 
the  north  by  the  Marquis  of  Salisbury's,  and  the  late 
Rev.  J.  Tatlock's  Hangfields,  marked  3,  d,  and  12,  i. 

The  bulk  of  this  district  is  also  pastoral,  and  with 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  177 

its  immediate  neighbours  on  the  north  and  south  sides, 
may  be  admired,  and  almost  coveted,  for  the  rural 
advantages  they  possess ;  this  and  the  adjoining  dis- 
tricts not  only  enjoy  the  advantage  of  being  purely 
rural,  but,  from  their  proximity  to  a  large  town,  they 
also  possess  the  convenience  of  having  all  their  house- 
hold and  domestic  wants  facilely  and  economically 
supplied. 

On  the  verdure  of  these  districts  cattle  are  amply 
depastured ;  the  soil  affords  to  the  husbandman  a  fair, 
if  not  a  generous  return;  and  the  few  erections 
already  completed  admirably  serve  the  denizens  of 
Liverpool,  and  other  individuals,  for  pleasant  domi- 
ciles, where,  in  peace  and  pure  air,  under  the  favour 
of  Providence,  they  may  add  many  years  to  the  leases 
of  their  lives.  Of  many  of  those  persons  who  were 
proprietors  of  lands,  in  the  east  district  of  Everton,  in 
the  year  1790,  it  is  not  intended,  in  this  section,  to 
treat,  as  they  will  have  conspicuous  niches  allotted  to 
them  in  subsequent  parts  of  this  historical  treatise, — 
a  few  of  them,  however,  en  passant,  must  be  men- 
tioned. 

The  localities  marked  29,  a,  and  29,  b,  were,  in  the 
year  1790,  owned  by  the  late  Jonas  Bold,  Esq.,  a 
gentleman  of  high  rank  in  the  aristocratical  circles  of 
Liverpool,  and  who  was  an  alderman  of  that  borough. 
Mr. Bold  was  but  very  slightly  connected  with  Everton; 
he  married  into  the  Oldham  family,  whose  house,  near 
the  old  beacon,  was  destroyed  by  fire,  in  the  year 
1 782 ;  since  that  period  none  of  the  family  have 

N 


178  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

dwelt  in  the  township.  It  does  not  appeal'  that  the 
late  Mr.  Bold  was  ever  conspicuous  in  the  affairs  of 
Everton. 

Mr.  Green,  who  in  the  year  1 790  owned  the  loca- 
lity marked  45,  a,  was  an  eccentric  gentleman,  and 
somewhat  given  to  ascetic  habits;  he  built  the 
original  part  of  the  dwelling  (now  much  enlarged  and 
improved)  which  forms  the  charming  residence  of  the 
family  of  the  late  William  Harding,  Esq.  Previously 
to  its  becoming  Mr.  Harding' s  property,  it  was  owned 
by  George  Case,  Esq.,  alderman  of  Liverpool,  who 
for  some  years  made  it  his  country  residence.  During 
Mr.  Case's  possession  of  this  villa,  in  the  night  of  the 
2d  of  October,  1803,  a  destructive  fire  took  place, 
which  materially  damaged  the  mansion.  It  is  more 
than  probable  that  Mr.  Case  always  deemed  the 
public  affairs  of  Everton  too  insignificant  for  him  to 
engage  in ;  but  in  the  mercantile,  and  more  particu- 
larly in  the  municipal,  affairs  of  Liverpool,  he  has 
long  borne  a  prominent  part. 

In  the  rear  of  this  mansion,  which  has  been  greatly 
improved  since  Mr.  Green's  time,  the  late  George 
Goring,  Esq.  erected  a  summer  hut  or  small  cottage, 
which  was  unpleasant  to  his  neighbour  on  the  south. 
This  cottage  had  its  origin  in  a  misunderstanding 
between  Mr.  Case  and  Mr.  Goring,  and  gave  rise  to 
a  suit-at-law ;  the  result  of  the  law-suit  (as  is  ever 
the  case)  was  loss,  particularly  to  Mr.  Goring. 

There  are  many  curious  clauses  respecting  cottages 
in  an  old  law,  31  Elizabeth,  chap,  vii.,  little  known 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  179 

and  less  cared  for  at  the  present  day :  the  following 
is  extracted  therefrom. 

"  No  man  may  build  a  cottage,  unless  he  lay  four 
acres  of  land  thereto;  except  it  he  in  the  market 
towns,  or  cities,  or  within  a  mile  of  the  sea,  or  for  the 
habitation  of  labourers  in  mines,  sailors,  foresters, 
shepherds,  &c. ;  and  cottages  erected  by  order  of  jus- 
tices of  the  peace  for  the  poor  and  impotent  people,  are 
excepted  out  of  the  statute :  the  four  acres  of  land  to 
make  it  a  cottage  within  the  law  are  to  be  freehold 
and  land  of  inheritance ;  and  four  acres  held  by  copy, 
or  for  life  or  lives,  or  for  any  number  of  years,  will 
not  he  sufficient  to  make  a  lawful  cottage."* 

If  this  law  be  not  abrogated,  or  if  there  be  not  some 
hole  to  creep  out  of,  it  is  a  question  if  the  cottage  (the 
subject  of  these  remarks)  was  an  erection  agreeable 
to  the  laws  of  the  realm ;  but  this  is  now  immaterial, 
as  regards  the  instance  under  consideration,  for  the 
cottage  which  Mr.  Goring  built  has  been  taken  down. 

Being  now  on  the  subject  of  cottages,  it  may  be  as 
well  to  state  that  there  have  been  recently  many  cot- 
tages, or  small  houses,  built  at  Everton.  Now  if  the 
trade,  commerce,  and  manufactures  of  Everton  re- 
quired such  a  description  of  population  as  must  occupy 
buildings  of  this  humble  sort,  the  evils,  which  of  a 
certainty  often  emanate  from  the  presence  of  such 
domiciles,  might  be  patiently  endured;  but  when  it 
is  considered  that  the  labouring  tenants  of  such  dwell- 
ings are,  and  will  continue  more  and  more  to  be, — 

*  The  penalty  is  £10,  and  40s.  a  month  for  the  continuance. 


180  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

a  very  vast  majority  of  them  at  least, — artizans  and 
operative  ag'grandizers  of  Liverpool,  surely  it  is  not 
too  much  to  endeavour  to  place  the  burthen  of  pauper- 
ism on  the  right  shoulders ;  on  the  shoulders,  in  short, 
of  that  body  which  grows  fat  on  the  labour  of  the 
prospective  paupers  of  Everton.  Under  this  view  of 
the  case,  the  authorities  of  Everton  would  not  only  be 
justified  in  examining  into,  and  having  enforced,  all 
the  restrictive  clauses,  touching  cottages,  that  may  be 
found  unrepealed  in  the  Statute  Book,  but  it  is  their 
duty  so  to  do.* 

The  south-west  quarter  of  the  east  district  of  Ever- 
ton has,  of  late  years,  been  much  advantaged,  by  the 
formations  of  new  villas,  and  by  planting,  and  other- 
wise improving  the  soil;  two  excellent,  handsome, 
and  spacious  houses  have  been  recently  erected  there, 
and  the  roads  have  been  much  improved  -,  the  south- 
end  of  Hangfield-lane  has  been  paved,  and  were  it 
properly  taken  in  hand,  this  road  might  be  made 
excellently  useful  and  ornamental.  From  Breck-lane 
to  the  mere,  what  a  number  of  elegant  villas,  charm- 
ing and  salubrious  residences,  might  be  constructed 
in  that  rural  lane  !  where  a  life  almost,  if  not  wholly 
pastoral,  might  be  led,  and  even  at  so  short  a  distance 
from  the  second  town  of  Britain — twenty  minutes' 
walk  would  take  a  merchant  from  the  Rialto  to  these 
regions  of  Arcadia. 

The  late  William  Harding,  Esq.  made  considerable 
additions  to  the  villa  originally  founded  by  the  late 

*  See  a  minute  in  the  town's  book,  made  on  the  20th  June,  1754. 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  181 

Mr.  Green,  by  purchasing  the  adjoining  localities, 
16,  e,  and  17,  g,  which  enabled  Mr.  Harding  highly 
to  improve  the  appearance  of  his  lawn  and  pleasure- 
grounds,  and  to  form  the  whole  into  a  most  delightful 
place  of  residence.* 

There  is  a  neat,  handsome,  though  small,  lodge- 
like  cottage  at  the  north  part  of  the  late  Mr.  Harding's 
mansion,  the  appearance  of  which  must  be  pleasing 
to  every  spectator ;  it  is  a  spot  where  a  quiet  bachelor, 
or  an  elderly  lady,  might  calmly  glide  through  life, 
in  all  the  luxuries  of  retirement. 

Two  excellent  houses  have  been  lately  erected,  by 
the  late  Mr.  Harding,  on  localities  16,  e,  and  17,  g  j 
these  buildings  are  stuccoed  over  on  the  outside,  to 
resemble  stone-work.  At  the  northernmost  of  these 
mansions  resides  James  Cordes,  Esq.,  a  gentleman 
extensively  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  at  Liver- 
pool ;  and  at  the  southernmost  and  largest  of  these 
domiciles  resides  Adam  Hodgson,  Esq.,  whose 
"Letters  from  America"  have  given  him  well- 
deserved  celebrity. 

The  two  last-noticed  villas  would  wear  a  more 
rural,  and  a  truly  picturesque  appearance,  were  the 
grounds  attached  to  them  more  adorned  with  that 
necessary  feature  in  all  rural  landscapes — wood; 
were  the  places  clustered  somewhat  abundantly  with 
shrubs,  and  moderately  sheltered  and  embellished 
with  trees,  as  is  the  villa  of  the  late  Mr.  Harding, 

*  Mr.  Case,  in  the  first  instance,  by  the  purchase  of  locality  20,  </, 
rendered  this  desirable  and  valuable  villa  capable  of  great  improvement. 


182  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

they  would  vie  in  beauty  with  any  in  the  neighbour- 
hood. 

The  late  Mr.  Harding  was,  in  early  life,  a  master 
mariner,  and  became  afterwards  a  considerable 
merchant  of  Liverpool;  eventually,  he  realized  a 
handsome  fortune,  and  with  prudence,  highly  praise- 
worthy, retired  from  the  risques  and  cares  of  com- 
merce, to  enjoy  with  his  family  all  the  comfort  and 
happiness  which  fortune  had  placed  at  his  command. 

During  the  residence  of  the  late  Mr.  Harding  at 
Everton,  there  were  few  public  concerns,  of  any 
interest  or  consequence,  in  which  he  was  not  engaged, 
and,  as  is  the  case  generally,  had  he  lived  longer, 
the  disposition  to  be  a  public  man,  would  have  grown 
with  increase  of  years ;  as  it  is,  there  is  no  remark- 
able feature  to  record  in  his  public  operations,  save, 
indeed,  that  he  was  laudably  instrumental  in  pro- 
moting the  building  of  the  first  church  erected  at 
Everton. 

With  the  exception  of  the  four  domiciles  already 
mentioned,  there  are  no  architectural  erections  in  the 
east  district  of  Everton.  In  its  south-east  quarter, 
there  are  three  very  desirable  fields,  belonging  to 
John  Pyke,  Esq.,  marked  17,  h,  17,  i,  and  17,  k; 
these  fields,  as  a  whole,  form  a  valuable  and  beautiful 
plot  of  land ;  from  the  eastern  parts  of  them  an  almost 
unrivalled  inland  view  is  obtained,  for  the  gentle 
declivity  of  the  adjoining  eastern  lands  permits  the 
eye  to  have  a  free  and  extensive  range  from  the 
north,  round  by  the  east,  and  far  towards  the  south. 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  183 

At  the  north-east  corner  of  this  east  district  is  a  small 
singularly-placed  locality,  which  extends  across  the 
east  ends  of  three  long  fields,  whose  west  ends  abut  on 
the  mere's  east  bank.  This  little  spot  would  not  have 
received  this  individual  notice,  if  it  did  not  afford 
the  opportunity  of  clearing  up  a  slight  inaccuracy  in 
Mr.  Sherwood's  map.  It  is  there  stated  that  this 
locality,  15,  t,  belongs  to  Miss  Howe;  but  that  lady 
permits  it  to  be  said  that  the  property  belongs  to  the 
estates  of  Messrs.  Rowe  and  Beezley.  This  is  a  very 
slight  inaccuracy  indeed ;  and  it  is  highly  creditable 
to  Mr.  Sherwood's  talent  and  assiduity,  that  errors  of 
greater  magnitude  have  not  been  discovered  in  his 
map,  and  but  few,  very  few,  others  of  any  kind. 
This  map  has,  however,  one  drawback,  it  does  not 
give  the  full  measures  of  each  lot  of  land ;  gardens, 
sites  of  houses,  and  enclosed  spaces  having  been 
excluded. 

It  may  be  said  of  this  region  of  Everton  that  the 
lands  are,  in  the  main,  superior  in  point  of  fertility  to 
most  other  soil  in  the  township. 

The  following  statement  may  be  considered  a  little 
out  of  place,  but  the  opportunity  to  make  it  must 
plead  the  excuse.  A  little  way  on  the  east  of 
Mr.  Pyke's  field,  17,  k,  on  the  south  side  of  Breck- 
road,  there  stands  a  long-known,  and  somewhat  noted, 
public-house,  named  "Cabbage-hall."  This  public- 
house,  although  small,  and  not  over  commodious,  or 
imposing  in  appearance,  is  much  resorted  to  by  the 
lower  and  middle  orders  of  its  own  neighbourhood, 


184  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

and  by  pedestrians  of  the  same  classes  of  Liverpool, 
in  their  rural  excursions  on  Sundays,  holidays,  and 
other  casual  times  of  visitation.  The  place  is  scarcely 
sufficiently  significant,  either  in  its  line  of  business, 
or  in  its  offers  of  accommodation  to  travellers,  to 
receive  this  particular  notice,  had  it  not  been  to 
remark,  that  the  name  of  the  place  serves  as  a  guide- 
word  to  persons  in  search  of  the  residences  of  the 
gentry  who  dwell  in  the  vicinage  of  the  universally 
known  "  Cabbage-hall," — that  a  place  is  so  far 
distant,  or  lies  in  such  a  direction,  from  Cabbage-hall, 
is  a  guidance  as  serviceable,  and  generally  as  true, 
as  are  the  inscriptions  on  a  sign-post. 

SOUTH-EAST  DISTRICT. 

The  south-east  district  is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Breck-lane ;  on  the  west  by  Breck  lands ;  on  the 
east,  by  Rocky-lane ;  and  on  the  south,  by  Roundhill- 
lane :  the  fields  marked  A,  are  bounded  on  the  south, 
by  Rake-lane;  on  the  west,  by  Boundary-lane ; * 
on  the  east,  by  Rocky-lane;  and  on  the  north,  by 
Roundhill-lane.  In  reality,  this  south-east  district  is 
of  very  small  dimensions,  for  the  seven  fields  marked 
A  are  not  in  the  township,  nor  under  the  control 
of  the  authorities  of  Everton ;  neither  should  be  the 
narrow  slips  of  land  on  the  west  side  of  Boundary- 
lane;  they  form,  indeed,  part  of  115  acres,  which 

*  There  are  narrow  slips  or  strips  of  land  subject  to  West  Derby  that 
ought  to  be  marked  A ;  they  are  the  east  ends  of  fields  that  lie  on  the 
west  side  of  Boundary-lane :  and  those  narrow  slips  form  the  east 
border  of  the  south  district  of  Everton. 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  185 

are  leased  for  1000  years  to  the  copyholders  of 
Everton,  of  which  lease  notice  has  been  already  taken 
in  this  work,  under  the  section  of  "  Property."  The 
people  of  West  Derby  have  proved  that  these  seven 
fields,  and  other  adjoining  small  portions  of  the  said 
lease-lands,  were  parts  and  parcels  of  the  commons 
or  wastes  of  West  Derby,  and  accordingly  the  copy- 
holders of  West  Derby  claimed,  and  eventually  sub- 
stantiated their  claim  to,  these  particular  lands ;  but, 
as  will  be  seen  by  documents  given  in  the  Appendix, 
the  tenants  of  Everton  were  suffered  to  remain  in 
possession,  and  also  to  enjoy  all  the  advantages  of  the 
premises  in  question,  on  condition  of  paying  £20  per 
acre  in  money  down,  and  of  contributing  tithe  and 
tax  in  common  with  other  and  similar  lands  of  that 
township,  to  West  Derby,  for  and  during  the  term  of 
the  said  lease.  Everton,  however,  still  pays  the  whole 
amount  of  lord* s  rent  (£5  15s.)  as  stipulated  in  the 
afore-named  lease ;  and  as  5^  acres  was  given  up  in 
land  to  West  Derby,  over  and  above  that  which 
was  paid  for  at  £20  per  acre,  as  before  stated,  the 
township  of  West  Derby  annually  pays  to  the  town- 
ship of  Everton  the  sum  of  5s.,  (it  ought  to  be 
5s.  l^d.,)  which  is  the  proportion  of  lord's  rent  due 
yearly  from  the  owners  or  occupiers  of  the  said  5^ 
acres  of  ceded  land. 

In  the  year  1790,  this  diminutive  south-east  dis- 
trict of  Everton  was  entirely  and  purely  pastoral,  and 
is  so,  even  yet,  with  the  exception  of  the  changes 
that  have  taken  place  on  one  single  locality — a  long 


186  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

narrow  slip  of  land,  marked  on  the  map  21,  e.  That 
part  is  now  dissevered,  or  divided  into  many  lots,  or 
separate  properties,  on  the  greater  part  of  which 
handsome  dwellings  are  erected,  each  residence 
having  delightful  and  serviceable  gardens  on  their 
south  sides.  The  westernmost  of  these  houses  is  the 
property  and  residence  of  Mr.  Richard  Powell,  a 
gentleman  engaged  in  the  cork-cutting  business  at 
Liverpool,  and  whose  charming  little  villa  receives 
the  admiration  of  all  who  behold  it ;  nor  is  it  deficient 
in  any  of  the  comforts  and  embellishments  of  domestic 
economy,  which  characterise  every  country  establish- 
ment of  a  wealthy  and  well-to-do  John  Bull.  Mr. 
Powell's  little  villa  has  a  tasty,  rural  air  about  it, 
which  is  really  pleasing.  What  a  contrast  does  this 
place  and  the  mansion  of  the  Harding' s  form,  when 
compared  with  the  ancient  part  of  the  Odd-house,  which 
stands  nearly  opposite !  and  yet  some  fourscore  years 
ago,  that  diminutive  part  of  the  Odd-house  was  the 
residence  of  a  substantial  and  very  respectable  family. 
But  great  revolutions  have  taken  place  in  the  do- 
mestic economy  of  the  inhabitants  of  Everton  of  late 
years ;  the  Odd-house  itself,  with  its  considerable 
architectural  additions,  and  pretty  garden-grounds, 
now  forms  a  residence  which  might  be  coveted  by  a 
modern  family  of  wealth  and  respectability.  Next 
on  the  east  of  Mr.  Powell's  villa,  are  three  good 
domiciles,  the  property  of  Mr.  Thomas  Reeves,  at 
one  of  which  he  resides.  Mr.  Reeves  has  retired 
from  business,  which,  no  doubt,  he  profitably  followed 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  187 

in  Liverpool :  both  lie  and  Mr.  Powell  occasionally 
step  forward  to  aid  and  promote  the  interests  and 
public  concerns  of  the  township  ;  they  have  both,  too, 
when  called  upon,  most  satisfactorily  filled  the  office  of 
surveyor  of  the  roads;  and  in  all  respects  seem  desirous 
to  countenance  and  assist  every  effort  made  for  the 
good  government  and  frequently  meditated  improve- 
ments of  Everton,  where  they  have  now  long  resided. 

On  the  east  of  Mr.  Reeves'  property  is  a  cottage, 
or  summer-house,  and  garden,  belonging  to  the 
family  of  the  late  Mr.  R.  Richardson,  who  was  a  very 
worthy,  plain,  and  unobtrusive  gentleman,  and  an 
ornament  and  credit  to  the  line  of  business  he  was 
engaged  in.  Mr.  Richardson  was  an  eminent  linen- 
draper  of  Liverpool,  who  might  have  boasted  that 
integrity  and  civility  formed  the  greater  part  of  his 
entire  stock  of  commodities — and  no  doubt  he  found 
that  they  were  commodities  which  put  as  much  money 
into  his  purse  as  any  other  articles  in  which  he  dealt. 
The  garden  was  the  late  Mr.  Richardson's  delight — 
his  hobby  indeed ;  it  was  there,  in  summer  and  fine 
weather,  he  would  frequently  retire,  to  cheat  care 
and  sweeten  life,  by  enjoying  the  luxuries  of  Flora 
and  Pomona,  and  which,  at  most  seasons  of  the 
year,  presented  themselves  when  he  visited  his  loved 
rural  retreat. 

There  are  also  three  other  dwellings,  and  three 
other  gardens,  on  the  east  of  the  garden  last  named. 
They  are  pretty  little  hobby -horsical  spots  for  the 
Liverpool  cits  to  spend  their  leisure  time  at  in  summer, 


188  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

when  many  an  agreeable  and  merry  tea-drinking 
party  meets.  These  gardens  are  bounded  on  the  east 
by  two  dwellings,  with  grounds  attached;  at  the 
largest,  and  which  is  his  property,  resides  William 
Pickering,  Esq.,  Mecklenburgh  Consul,  and  a  highly 
respectable  corn-factor  of  Liverpool.  Mr.  Pickering 
is  extensively  connected  with  foreign  commerce,  and 
is  one  of  those  truly  useful  persons  who,  when  the 
laws  will  permit,  imports  corn  into  our  ports — that 
absolutely  necessary  and  veritable  staff  of  life ;  he  is 
also  one  of  those  who,  if  legislators  did  not  interfere, 
would,  under  the  permission  of  Providence,  never 
suffer  famine  to  pay  even  a  transient  visit  to  our  (in 
most  respects)  highly  favoured  land.  Excepting  on 
locality  21,  e,  no  other  part  of  the  south-east  district 
of  Everton  has  been  yet  submitted  to  the  builder's 
operations. 

The  locality  marked  14,  a,  is,  in  the  map  of  1790, 
stated  to  be  the  property  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Formby,  but 
that  statement,  though  not  altogether  without  founda- 
tion, is  not  strictly  correct:  Mr.  Formby  certainly 
contracted  with  the  late  John  Rowe,  Esq.  for  the  pur- 
chase of  the  field,  but  the  consideration  (some  pror 
perty  in  Manchester)  was  not  accepted  by  Mr.  Rowe, 
and  who,  in  the  sequel,  gave  Mr.  Formby  an  equiva- 
lent for  relinquishing  the  contract.  The  place  is  now 
the  property  of  the  worthy  Miss  Rowe,  of  Everton 
Crescent.  Of  the  other  proprietors  of  this  district 
notice  will  be  taken  in  subsequent  and  more  appro- 
priate parts  of  these  pages. 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  189 

Of  the  situation,  soil,  local  advantages,  &c.  of  this 
south-east  district,  it  may  not  be  necessary  to  say 
more,  than  that  the  prospects  from  this  quarter  are 
somewhat  more  confined  and  curtailed,  both  in  extent 
and  beauty,  than  those  in  its  northern  neighbour- 
hood ;  for  the  land  of  the  adjoining  townships  on  the 
south,  are  almost,  if  not  rally,  equal  in  height  with  the 
lands  of  the  south-east  district ;  but  an  exception  must 
be  taken,  as  far  as  regards  the  north-east  quarter, 
from  whence  most  extensive,  charming,  and  beautiful 
inland  views  may  be  obtained.  As  to  the  soil,  salu- 
brity of  situation,  and  other  matters,  this  district  is 
pretty  much  on  a  par  with  other  inland  parts  of  the 
township.  On  the  east  border  of  this  district,  in 
Walton  township,  William  Brown,  Esq.  of  Liverpool, 
and  Adam  Cliffe,  Esq.  of  Everton,  are  each  construct- 
ing a  delightful  villa,  and  the  mansions  now  erecting 
there  by  those  gentlemen  are  spacious,  commodious, 
and  might  indeed  be  almost  termed  magnificent. 

SOUTH  DISTRICT. 

The  south  district  of  Everton  is  a  large  and  com- 
pact patch  of  land,  forming  nearly  a  square  in  shape ; 
it  is  bounded  on  the  west  by  Everton  village,  and 
Everton-lane ;  on  the  north  by  Breck-lane ;  on  the 
east  by  Breck-lands,  and  by  strips  of  land  on  the 
west  side  of  Boundary-lane;  and  on  the  south,  by 
lands  of  Low-hill,  and  by  Rake-lane. 

A  great  part  of  this  district  is  still  also  pastoral ; 


190  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

but  on  its  west  front  there  are,  and  time  out  of  mind 
have  heen,  many  dwellings,  to  which  are  attached 
convenient  outbuildings,  useful  gardens,  and  orna- 
mental pleasure-grounds.  The  north  part  of  the 
west  front  of  this  district  may  be  said  to  constitute 
the  eastern  edge  or  limit  of  the  village  of  Everton, 
or,  as  it  is  styled  in  most  of  the  very  ancient  draughts 
and  maps,  the  "town"  of  Everton. 

This  part  of  the  work  is  considered  the  most  ap- 
propriate for  giving  those  brief  biographical  sketches 
of  persons  which  were  omitted  in  the  accounts  of  the 
districts  already  noticed, — although  the  subjects  of 
them  were  proprietors  of  lands  and  localities  which 
have  been  descriptively  travelled  over  in  the  previous 
parts  of  this  treatise. 

Commencing,  therefore,  at  the  extreme  north-west 
corner  of  the  south  district,  at  a  very  small  locality, 
marked  17,  d,  which  in  the  year  1790  was,  and  is 
still,  the  property  of  the  oldest  family,  whose  de- 
scendants of  the  same  name  continue  to  reside  in  the 
township — named  Pyke ;  but  of  the  members  of  the 
Pyke  family,  more  notice  will  be  taken  immediately. 

In  the  year  1790,  on  locality  17,  d,  there  stood  a 
ruinous  dwelling,  and  an  equally  dilapidated  barn,  in 
which  human  beings  at  that  time,  and  subsequently 
also,  took  up  their  abode ;  but  it  is  due  to  the  credit 
of  the  present  proprietor  to  state,  that  no  sooner 
did  he  get  possession  of  the  ruinous  old  places  from 
the  last  of  their  occupants  than  he  razed  them  to  the 
ground,  and,  in  the  year  1805,  caused  the  present 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  191 

handsome  dwelling  to  be  erected  on  their  sites ;  but 
the  entire  lot  is  so  limited  in  extent  that  the  house 
occupies  nearly  the  whole  of  its  surface. 

Adjoining  the  last  noticed  lot  is  locality  70,  #, 
which,  in  the  year  1 790,  was  the  property  of  the  late  V 

Mrs.  Bennett,  whose  delicate  state  of  health  long 
confined  her  in  a  state  of  comparative  seclusion  to 
the  interior  of  her  snug,  comfortable  domicile.  At 
Mrs.  Bennett's  death,  the  property  passed  into  the 
possession  of  the  late  Edward  Chaffers,  Esq.,  once  a 
highly  respectable  merchant  of  Liverpool;  who,  in 
his  latter  days,  lived  at  this  place  as  a  retired  gen- 
tleman, well  known  and  remembered  for  his  cheer- 
ful, sociable  qualities,  and  agreeable  conversational 
powers. 

Until  very  recently,  there  stood  on  the  west  front 
of  this  lot  a  good,  strong,  stone-built  edifice — a  larger 
kind  of  cottage ;  but  some  three  or  four  years  ago 
the  Misses  Chaffers,  who  are  its  present  proprietors, 
took  the  old  building  down,  and  had  a  very  tasty 
piece  of  architecture  placed  on  its  site,  where  they 
now  reside.  This  building  is  perfectly  unique  in 
Everton,  as  to  its  style  or  order  of  architecture,  and 
on  the  whole  displays  a  taste  superior  to  the  common 
usages  of  modern  art :  it  is  strongly  built,  and,  were 
it  not  rather  conventual  in  appearance,  might  be 
termed  a  beautiful,  as  it  is  undoubtedly  an  elegant 
and  commodious  domicile.  But,  as  usual,  the  sombre 
hue  of  the  Everton  red-stone  materially  detracts  from 
that  lightness  of  style  which  buildings  of  this  class 


192  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

may,  and  indeed  ought,  otherwise  to  possess.  The 
Misses  Chaffers  seem,  in  an  eminent  degree,  to  be 
endowed  with  those  rare,  but  rich  treasures  of  life, 
content,  happiness,  and  independence;  whilst  they 
rank,  in  mental  attainments,  and  respectability  of 
station  and  character,  with  the  first  classes  of  Ever- 
ton's  refined  community. 

In  many  of  the  old  maps  there  is  some  indistinct- 
ness in  marking  out  the  true  divisions  of  these  two 
last  named  localities,  but  in  the  map  attached  to  this 
work  the  boundaries  of  each  lot  are  clearly  and  pro- 
perly defined. 

Adjoining  the  property  of  the  Misses  Chaffers,  on 
the  south,  is  the  locality  17,  m,  which  has  long  been 
possessed  by  the  family  of  "Pyke" — the  most  ancient 
in  Everton,  and  one  which,  by  the  intermarriage  of 
its  present  head  with  a  lady  of  the  family  of  Heyes, 
has  created  for  itself  extensive  interest,  and  will  have 
great  influence  in  the  future  concerns  of  the  town- 
ship. The  locality,  1 7,  m,  was  long  the  residence  of 
the  ancestors  of  the  present  John  Pyke,  Esq.  In  the 
year  1784  his  father  died  there,  and  Ins  widowed 
mother  afterwards  long  resided  at  this  old-fashioned 
villa,  with  her  very  worthy  daughter,  Miss  Ann  Pyke. 
In  this  dwelling  these  two  excellently-disposed  ladies 
remained  until  the  year  1825,  in  the  plain,  praise- 
worthy, moral,  and  neighbourly  style  of  good  old 
days. 

On  the  death  of  his  mother,  in  the  year  1825,  the 
present  Mr.  Pyke,  at  considerable  expense,  converted 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  193 

an  antique,  better  sort  of  large  farm-house,  into  a 
genteel  and  commodious  place  of  residence,  in  every 
way  suitable  for  a  family  of  respectability.  The  old 
dwelling  was  flanked  on  the  north  by  a  large  barn, 
which  Mr.  Pyke  took  down. 

The  Pyke  family  promises  to  perpetuate  its  name 
in  the  township  to  a  remote  period ;  the  main  branch 
or  head  of  it  has  for  some  time  past  established  its 
residence  at  Everton,  and  to  all  appearance  per- 
manently; the  family  being  numerous,  and  owning 
extensive  possessions,  it  is  probable  that  they  will  be 
induced,  in  many  instances,  even  when  settled  in 
separate  conjugal  communities,  to  take  up  their  abode 
where  their  name  has  been  so  long  known,  and  where 
the  increasing  value  of  their  property  will  afford  them 
proportionate  weight  and  consequence. 

In  early  life,  the  present  John  Pyke,  Esq.  was  a 
master-cooper  of  Liverpool;  but  it  is  long  since  he 
retired,  and  no  doubt  with  adequate  pecuniary  reward, 
from  the  toils,  cares,  and  risques  of  business,  to  enjoy, 
in  the  autumn  of  life,  that  modicum  of  peace  and 
happiness  which  Providence  shall  please  to  place 
before  him ;  and  where  is  he  more  likely  to  find  peace 
and  happiness  than  in  the  quiet  and  semi-rural  social 
enjoyments  of  Everton  village  ? 

In  the  year  1790,  the  locality  19,  k,  was  owned  by 
the  heirs  of  the  late  Mr.  Thomas  Heyes,  whose  widow 
was  the  last  person  of  the  name  that  held  possession 
of  the  place ;  the  house  is  still  standing,  on  the  west 
front  of  that  locality,  in  which  the  late  Mrs.  Thomas 

o 


194  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

Heyes  died.  She  was  a  kind-hearted  woman,  but, 
like  her  neighbour,  Mrs.  Bennett,  was  much  confined 
to  an  in-door  life,  by  infirmities  and  want  of  health. 
The  family  of  Heyes  is,  perhaps,  the  most  ancient 
Everton  family  whose  immediate  descendants  are 
known  to  be  still  inhabitants  of  the  township;  and 
from  the  extensive  possessions,  which  old  deeds, 
maps,  and  various  other  documents  shew  them,  from 
time  immemorial,  to  have  possessed  in  the  place, 
they  must  have  long  ranked  high  in  weight  and 
consequence  at  Everton. 

The  nobles  of  Everton  have  previously  been  alluded 
to  in  these  pages,  in  which  class  many  of  the  Heyes' 
family  formed  a  part ;  from  them  the  Messrs.  Pyke, 
Woodhouse,  Row,  Beezley,  Okill,  and  Manifold  have 
derived  considerable  parts  and  parcels  of  property, 
all  which  families,  and  likewise  those  of  Plumpton 
and  Jenkins,  are,  by  actual  affinity  of  blood,  or  by 
matrimonial  alliances,  connected  with  some  or  other 
of  the  branches  of  this  family.  The  name  of  Heyes 
has,  however,  become  extinct  in  the  township,  except 
in  the  Christian  appellative  of  some  of  the  juvenile 
descendants. 

Most  people  of  the  present  day  must  well  remember 
the  late  Mr.  John  Banks,  of  Liverpool,  who  was  a 
respectable-looking  old  gentleman.  About  the  year 
1782,  Mr.  Banks  had  a  spinster  sister,  who  then 
resided  as  a  companion  to  the  last  Mr.  Heyes,  at  the 
villa  now  under  consideration.  Miss  Molly  Banks 
was  a  courageous  woman,  and  often  took  delight  in 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  195 

exercising  herself  with  the  use  of  fire  arms.  Her 
intrepidity  and  presence  of  niind  once  preserved  her 
friend's  house  from  robbery.  Having  been  awakened 
by  some  strange  noises  in  the  dead  of  a  winter's  night, 
Miss  Banks  stole  from  her  bed,  and  seizing  a  loaded 
fowling-piece,  proceeded  to  an  upper  window,  from 
whence,  by  the  glimmer  of  a  few  twinkling  stars,  she 
discovered  some  men  striving  to  effect  an  entrance 
into  the  house,  through  a  window  immediately  under- 
neath the  one  at  which  she  stood;  upon  which  she 
cautiously  unfastened  the  lattice,  and  gently  obtruded 
the  fowling-piece,  sufficiently  to  bear  on  the  mark,  and 
fired  most  effectively,  for,  although  the  robbers  scam- 
pered off,  one  of  them  was  seriously  wounded,  and 
crawled  to  the  end  of  the  village,  where,  it  is  supposed, 
his  comrades  put  him  into  some  vehicle,  and  con- 
veyed him  away,  no  further  trace  of  blood  being  dis- 
covered. Miss  Banks  was  proud  of  her  achievement, 
and  the  community  was  protected  from  night  depre- 
dators, for  robberies  were  unknown  in  the  township 
for  a  considerable  time  afterwards. 

The  house  in  which  the  late  Mrs.  Heyes  resided, 
and  indeed  the  whole  of  the  locality  19,  Jc,  has  under- 
gone many  alterations  and  amendments,  and  is  now 
the  residence  of  John  Pyke,  Esq.,  whose  lady  is  great 
niece  to  the  last  male  of  the  family  of  the  Heyes'  * 
who  resided  at  Everton. 

The  next  locality  on  the  south,  adjoining  to  Mr. 
Pyke's,  is  that  which  is  marked  on  the  map  38,  b. 

*  The  late  Mr.  Thomas  Heyes. 


196  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

This  villa,  in  the  year  1790,  was  the  property  and 
residence  of  the  late  John  Rowe,  Esq.,  the  father  of 
the  much  lamented  and  worthy  George  Rowe,  Esq., 
who  died  on  the  fifth  day  of  July,  1826,  aged  fifty- 
seven  years,  and  during  the  time  he  was  serving  the 
office  of  bailiff  of  the  borough  of  Liverpool ;  an  office 
which,  had  he  lived,  there  is  little  doubt  would  have 
been  a  prelude  to  his  possessing  the  mayoralty  of  that 
place.  George  Rowe,  Esq.  was  twice  married ;  by 
the  first  wife  he  had  a  son,  who  died  in  1829 ;  by  the 
second  wife  he  has  a  daughter,  who  is  now  heiress  to 
the  family  estates  of  the  Rowes  of  Everton. 

Some  seventy  years  ago,  the  family  of  Rowe  first 
settled  itself  in  Everton ;  the  head  of  this  family  (the 
late  John  Rowe,  Esq.)  came  from  Cheshire,  and  pre- 
viously to  his  taking  up  his  abode  at  Everton,  had 
been  a  most  respectable  merchant  of  Liverpool.  The 
late  John  Rowe,  Esq.,  the  elder  (for  he  had  a  son 
whose  name  was  also  John),  for  a  long  series  of  years 
performed  a  conspicuous  part  in  Everton' s  municipal 
matters,  and  internal  local  arrangements.  Mr.  Rowe 
became  an  inhabitant  of  Everton  at  a  time  when 
its  nobles  were  not  overburthened  with  discernment, 
when  their  wit  was  homely,  and  their  manners  but 
very  slightly  polished ;  the  lords  of  Everton  were  then 
unscholastic,  plain-dealing,  honest  people,  to  whom 
Mr.  Rowe  became  a  treasure,  for  in  the  direction 
of  the  affairs  of  the  township  he  was  factotum ;  nor 
can  his  good  services  be  denied  with  any  shew  of 
truth,  for  his  measures  appeared  to  be  those  of  pru- 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  197 

dence  and  patriotism :  that  he  was  ever  attentively  at 
his  post,  is  clearly  ascertained,  by  his  name  appear- 
ing affixed  to  almost  every  public  document  of  con- 
sequence, from  the  year  1764  to  that  of  1805.  But 
towards  the  latter  end  of  the  last  century  many  new 
comers,  of  equal  mental  capacity,  influence,  and 
consequence  with  Mr.  Rowe,  settled  themselves  in 
Everton,  and  this  circumstance,  together  with  his 
advanced  state  of  life,  led  him,  a  few  years  before  his 
decease,  to  withdraw  altogether  from  public  affairs. 

For  a  long  period  the  old  nobles,  with  Mr.  Rowe 
at  their  head,  opposed  the  innovations  of  the  new 
settlers,  whose  attempts  at  more  enlightened,  and  con- 
sequently more  expensive,  modes  of  proceeding,  were 
ill  brooked  by  the  legitimates  of  Everton.  Many 
bickerings  and  wordy  skirmishes  were  the  conse- 
quence ;  but  at  length  Mr.  Rowe,  and  a  great  majo- 
rity of  the  old  regime,  gave  in  to  the  better  planned 
measures,  and  acted  in  friendship  and  concert  with 
their  new  neighbours. 

By  his  intermarriage  with  a  daughter  of  the  late 
Mr.  George  Heyes,  the  late  elder  John  Rowe,  Esq., 
became  greatly  interested  in  the  proprietorship  of  the 
lands  of  Everton :  both  the  map  of  1 790,  and  Mr. 
Sherwood's  recently  constructed  map,  shew  that  many 
extensive  and  valuable  parcels  of  land  in  the  township 
were,  and  still  are,  the  property  of  the  families  of 
Messrs.  Rowe  and  Beezley.  The  late  Mr.  Beezley 
also  married  a  daughter  of  the  late  Mr.  George  Heyes ; 


198  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

and  the  sisters,  Mrs.  Rowe  and  Mrs.  Beezley,  were 
co-heiresses  of  their  father's  Everton  estates. 

The  late  elder  John  Rowe,  Esq.,  who  died  on  the 
27th  November,  1811,  left  one  son  and  two  daughters; 
his  eldest  son  John,  a  bachelor,  died  in  the  life-time 
of  his  father,  on  the  31st  May,  1809,  aged  fifty-three 
years;  the  late  worthy  George  Rowe,  Esq.,  the 
youngest  son,  and  who  survived  his  father,  has  been 
already  noticed  in  these  pages ;  and  of  the  daughters, 
one  is  also  deceased.  The  remaining  branches  of  the 
late  Mr.  Rowe's  family  are,  a  grandson,*  a  grand- 
daughter, and  a  daughter,  the  present  very  worthy 
Miss  Sarah  Rowe,  a  cheerful,  intelligent,  excellent 
lady,  who  now  dwells  at  the  Crescent  of  Everton, 
from  whose  retentive  stores  of  memory  many  passages 
in  tlu's  treatise  are  drawn.  The  younger  John  Rowe, 
Esq.  never  placed  himself  very  conspicuously  in 
society.  For  a  short  time  after  the  elder  Mr.  Rowe's 
death,  the  family  continued  to  reside  at  the  locality 
now  under  consideration  (38,  5),  but  at  length  quitted 
and  sold  it.  The  new  proprietor  converted  it  into  a 
brewery,  which  proved  an  unprofitable  speculation. 
Since  then,  the  premises  have  been  in  many  hands, 
and  are  now  the  property  of  James  Plumpton,  Esq., 
a  gentleman  who  is  a  branch  of  a  family  long  con- 
nected with,  and  greatly  interested  in,  the  landed 

*  This  grandson  is  also  dead — he  departed  this  life  20th  April,  1829, 
at  Bath,  aged  twenty-two  years;  by  his  early  and  lamented  decease 
his  half-sister  becomes  heiress  to  many  valuable  Everton  properties. 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  199 

property  of  the  township,  and  of  whom  notice  will  be 
taken  more  largely  hereafter.  Mr.  Plumpton  is 
erecting  an  extensive  mansion  in  the  rear  of  the  old 
dwelling,  which  is  to  be  taken  down  when  the  new 
house  shall  be  completed, — the  work  of  demolition, 
indeed,  has  already  commenced. 

The  next  locality  on  the  south  of  Mr.  Plumpton's 
residence,  is  that  marked  12,  g,  which  was,  long 
previous  to  the  year  1 790,  the  property  of  a  very  old 
Everton  family,  of  the  name  of  Johnson,  and  is  still 
in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Tatlock,  the  great  grandson 
of  the  last  Mr.  Johnson,  who  was  seized  of  the 
property  in  question.  The  Tatlock  family  has  very 
valuable  and  extensive  possessions  in  the  township, 
most  of  which  accrue  from  the  marriage  of  the  late 
Rev.  Henry  Tatlock  with  the  daughter  of  a  rich 
Everton  noble,  the  Mr.  John  Johnson  above-named, 
who  built  the  dwelling-house  now  standing  on  this 
locality,  12,  g. 

Mr.  Johnson  is  said  to  have  been  an  honest, 
straight-forward  Englishman  j  endowed  with  more 
sense  than  shew  ;  and  to  have  been  a  merry,  sociable 
neighbour — a  happy,  cheerful,  home-beloved  family- 
man.  Mr.  Johnson  was  at  one  time  in  treaty  with 
the  late  Joseph  Rose,  Esq.,  for  the  disposal  of  a  piece 
of  land  which  now  belongs  to  John  Carson,  Esq.,  in 
Netherfield-road  north ;  it  was  a  certain  croft,  in 
which  a  favourite  mare  of  Mr.  Johnson's  wife  was 
buried;  Mr.  Rose  affected  to  be  careless  about  the 
purchase,  and  suffered  the  affair  to  lie  dormant  for  a 


200  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

time ;  at  length,  he  seriously  applied  to  complete  the 
affair,  but  Mr.  Johnson  then  rose  in  his  demand  full 
fifty  pounds,  urging,  in  a  somewhat  satirical  strain, 
that  he  must  have  fifty  pounds  more  than  he  had 
formerly  demanded,  "  because  that  croft  was  poor  old 
Smiler's  burial  place."  The  bargain  was  eventually 
agreed  upon,  and,  with  many  a  chuckle  of  delight, 
Mr.  Johnson  has  been  heard  to  boast,  that  he  had 
sold  a  dead  horse  for  fifty  pounds ;  a  sum,  as  he  was 
wont  to  observe  with  a  sly  wink,  greater  by  far  than 
any  dead  horse  was  ever  sold  for  before. 

The  late  Rev.  Johnson  Tatlock  was  grandson  to 
the  late  Mr.  John  Johnson,  and  inherited  most  of  his 
grandfather's  Everton  possessions.  Mr.  Tatlock  has 
left  a  widow,  and  an  only  son,  who,  together  with 
a  very  worthy,  cheerful  maiden  lady,  sister  to  the 
reverend  gentleman,  are  now  the  only  survivors  of  a 
family  which  at  one  time  promised  to  be  as  numerous 
as  it  was  influential  in  the  township.  The  Tatlock 
family  quitted  this  residence  many  years  ago,  which 
has  been  in  the  occupancy  of  many  tenants  since  that 
period,  and  is  now  the  residence  of  Mr.  Wm.  Syers, 
one  of  a  family  which  has,  in  some  or  other  of  its 
branches  and  connexions,  been  resident  in  the  town- 
ship for  the  last  fifty  years — the  individuals  of  this 
name  (all  of  one  and  the  same  family)  at  the  present 
moment  compose  in  the  aggregate  a  greater  number 
than  that  of  any  other  name  in  the  township. 

The  next  locality  on  the  south  of  the  last  named  is 
that  marked  26,  e,  which,  in  the  year  1 790,  was  the 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  201 

property  of  the  late  John  Strong,  Esq.,  long  an 
eminent  merchant  of  Liverpool.  At  the  same  period 
Mr.  Strong  was  also  the  proprietor  of  several  other 
parcels  of  land  in  Everton,  which  lie  contiguous  to  this 
locality,  and  which  property  was,  after  Mr.  Strong's 
death,  purchased  by  Thomas  Hodgson,  Esq.,  who 
bequeathed  them  to  his  son  E.  L.  Hodgson,  Esq., 
and  his  children,  to  whom  the  property  now  belongs ; 
the  lands  are  all  marked  with  the  figures  26.  E.  L. 
Hodgson,  Esq.  for  some  time  resided  at  the  villa  now 
owned  by  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Brooks.  Mr.  Hodgson 
frequently  stood  forward  in  many  weighty  public 
matters;  but  the  scenes  of  his  strenuous  and  well- 
meant  endeavours  lay  chiefly  in  Liverpool,  of  which 
place  he  was  long  a  merchant  of  eminence. 

The  locality  under  consideration  is  little  other  than 
a  very  long  passage  (private  property)  leading  in  an 
eastwardly  direction  to  the  other  possessions  of  the 
same  proprietor.  On  the  north  side  of  this  passage 
is  the  village  smithy,  generally  a  noted  place,  but 
here  fixed  in  a  situation  too  private  to  be  ever 
on  a  par  with  ShaJcspeare's  smithy.  At  the  present 
smithy  of  the  village  of  Everton,  there  are  none  that 
stand  "  with  open  mouth,  swallowing  the  news,"  for 
nothing  is  spoken  of  there  but  the  lightest  and  .most 
insignificant  of  village  matters ; — once,  however,  there 
was  a  smithy  at'  Everton ! — but  of  that  more  anon. 
There  is  a  small  ivy-covered  cottage,  built  of  the 
Everton  red  free-stone,  which  covers  nearly  one  half 


202  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

of  the  frontage  of  this  locality ;  it  seems  a  diminutive 
and  incommodious  residence. 

On  the  south  boundary  of  the  last-named  locality 
stands  another  narrow  lot,  marked  22,  f,  on  the  map, 
which,  in  the  year  1790,  belonged  to  the  family  of 
the  late  John  Williamson,  Esq.,  once  a  wealthy  and 
highly  respectable  brewer  of  Lancelot-hey,  in  Liver- 
pool, who  possessed  much  other  valuable  property  in 
Everton,  all  of  which  has  passed  into  other  hands. 
There  were  few  characters  connected  with  Everton 
that  stood  higher  than  Mr.  Williamson's ;  his  conduct 
was  truly  good,  and  his  pale-beer  was  so  honestly 
brewed,  and  so  excellent  of  its  kind,  that  it  acquired 
a  highly  celebrated  name,  both  at  home,  and  at  all 
foreign  parts  to  which  it  was  sent. 

A  circumstance  happened  to  Mr.  Williamson,  with 
such  singularly  happy  results,  as  to  deserve  notice. 
He  had  been  long  afflicted  with  a  grievous  disorder 
in  one  of  his  legs,  for  the  cure  of  which  he  called  in 
the  best  medical  practitioners,  who  in  vain  exerted 
themselves  in  various  curative  efforts — the  disorder 
defied  their  art — amputation  was  at  length  decided 
upon,  the  profession  and  the  patient  having  agreed  to 
the  operation ;  but,  on  the  morning  of  the  day  on 
which  it  was  to  have  been  performed,  one  —  Ashton, 
a  cowkeeper  of  Kirkdale,  and  who  was  also  a 
veterinary  empiric,  chanced  to  call  on  Mr.  William- 
son, and,  after  a  little  chat,  the  undiplomaed  doctor 
requested  permission  to  explore  the  morbid  sinuosities 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  203 

of  the  diseased  member.  After  due  investigation, 
the  honest  old  milk  manufacturer  proposed,  for  the 
reward  of  half-a-barrel  of  ale,  to  undertake  the  cure 
of  the  condemned  leg;  and,  by  way  of  making  the 
offer  more  tempting  and  acceptable,  the  spurious 
practitioner  engaged  to  go  through  his  operations,  up 
to  the  very  last  stage  of  cure,  without  the  aid  or 
introduction  of  knife  or  saw.  The  proposal  was 
accepted,  the  regular  disciples  of  Galen  were  dis- 
missed, and  the  leg  was  cured,  but  the  half-barrel  of 

ale  was never  paid — no,  but  in  lieu  thereof,  the 

purse  of  Mr.  Williamson  was  so  much  at  the  cow- 
keeper's  service,  that  his  stock  in  trade  gradually 
became  greater,  and  was  so  advantageously  managed, 
that,  in  a  few  years,  a  handsome  competence  was 
created  for  the  lucky,  though  illegitimate,  meddler  in 
the  art  of  leechood. 

Through  his  intermarriage  with  the  daughter  of 
the  late  Mr.  Williamson,  General  Gascoyne,  the 
present  worthy  member  of  parliament  for  Liverpool, 
became  interested  in  some  valuable  lands  of  Everton. 

By  an  inscription,  chiseled  on  a  stone  over  the 
west  door,  or  main  entrance,  of  a  cottage  which 
stands  on  this  locality,  22,  f,  it  would  appear  that  the 
building  was  erected  in  the  year  1644;  but  notice  of 
this  place  has  been  already  taken  in  the  section  of 
antiquities ;  it  is  now  the  property  of  a  Mr.  Slingsby, 
a  respectable,  and,  as  rumour  has  it,  wealthy  grazier. 
If  the  improvement  in  this  place  be  the  effect  of 
Mr.  Slingsby's  own  taste,  he  has  evinced  knowledge 


204  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

in  the  art  of  embellishing  dilapidated  domiciles,  for 
this  humble  villa  is  only  deficient  in  a  few  flowers 
and  shrubs  to  give  it  a  rural  and  agreeable  finish. 
There  are  fastidious  persons,  who  are  pleased  to  say 
that  the  inscription  over  the  portal  of  this  cottage  is  a 
forgery,  or  an  interpolated,  spurious  piece  of  intel- 
ligence, placed  there  in  comparatively  modern  times, 
by  the  would-be  owner  of  a  place  of  antiquity. 

Proceeding  southward,  the  next  locality  is  that 
marked  1,  o,  on  the  map,  which,  in  the  year  1790, 
was  the  property  and  place  of  residence  of  the  late 
John  Shaw,  Esq.,  a  gentleman  who,  at  that  time, 
was  the  most  extensive  proprietor  of  Everton  lands. 

The  principal  part,  if  not  the  whole,  of  the  Everton 
possessions  of  the  late  John  Shaw,  Esq.,  became  his 
through  intermarriage  with  a  widow  lady  of  the  name 
of  Halsall. 

There  is  abundant  evidence  that  the  name  of 
Halsall  long  ranked  the  highest  in  the  list  of  the 
names  of  Everton's  aristocracy ;  and  yet  there  is  not 
now  one  individual  of  the  name  dwelling  in  the  town- 
ship ;  but  it  is  a  name  that  will  long  remain  con- 
spicuous on  its  annals — in  many  a  transfer-deed  for 
ages  to  come  it  must  of  necessity  appear.  The 
archives  of  Everton  contain  many  vouchers  of  the 
Halsalls  of  old  having  played  prominent  parts  in 
most  of  its  transactions ;  and  for  centuries  last  past 
there  appears  to  have  been  individuals  of  that  family 
resident  in  the  township,  and  lords  of  its  soil. 

There  are  still  some  members  of  the  Halsall  family 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  205 

in  existence,  and  who  bear  the  name ;  but  it  does  not 
come  within  the  aim  and  object  of  this  work  to  enter 
into  an  enquiry  respecting  their  professions,  pros- 
pects, or  intentions,  or  why  they  are  not  loids  of  some 
parts  of  Everton's  soil  at  the  present  time.  There 
are  also  some  of  the  first  families  of  Liverpool  related 
to,  and  connected  with,  the  family  of  the  Halsalls  of 
Everton ;  amongst  others,  those  of  Goore  and  Stani- 
forth.  The  last  Mr.  Halsall,  of  Everton,  was  long 
styled  an  Everton  noble — he  died  rather  suddenly, 
and  it  was  his  pleasure  to  bequeath  his  estates  to  his 
widow,  who,  as  before  stated,  again  intermarried  with 
the  late  John  Shaw,  Esq.,  and  to  him  she  bequeathed 
the  Everton  estates. 

The  mansion  which  stands  on  locality  1,  o,  was 
originally  built  by  one  of  the  Halsall  family ;  it  has 
been  increased  in  size,  decorated,  and  embellished, 
at  various  times,  by  successive  owners  and  occupiers ; 
the  late  Mr.  Shaw  long  dwelt  there,  as  did  his  family 
for  some  time  after  his  decease.  The  villa  is  now  in 
the  occupancy  of  William  Nicholson,  Esq.,  an  alder- 
man of  the  borough  of  Liverpool,  a  highly  respected 
gentleman,  and  fully  deserving  of  the  good  name  he 
universally  bears :  but  it  is  in  higher  annals — those 
of  Liverpool — that  Mr.  Nicholson's  biography  should 
be  placed,  and  where,  in  all  likelihood,  it  will 
appear.* 

By  casting  a  glance  at  the  map,  it  will  be  per- 

*  Since  this  was  written,  Thomas  Shaw,  Esq.,  the  owner  of  this  villa, 
has  made  it  his  place  of  residence. 


206  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

ceived,  that  the  late  Mr.  Shaw's  Everton  posses- 
sions were,  in  the  year  1790,  most  extensive — each 
and  every  locality  inscribed  on  the  map  with  the 
figure  1,  belonged  to  that  gentleman,  and  the  entire, 
or  very  nearly  so,  of  those  possessions  descended  to 
his  only  son  and  heir,  the  present  Thomas  Shaw, 
Esq.,  a  member  of  the  common  council  of  Liverpool. 

The  present  Mr.  Shaw  interferes  but  little  with  the 
public  affairs  of  Everton  \  Liverpool,  it  is  presumed, 
offers  a  more  tempting  field  for  the  employment  of  the 
time  he  wishes  to  devote  to  public  business.  There 
was  nothing  prominent  in  the  life  of  the  late  Mr. 
Shaw;  he  was  unambitious  and  unostentatious,  and, 
according  to  the  posthumous  character  given  unto 
him  by  his  neighbours,  meritoriously  fulfilled  his 
conjugal  and  parental  duties. 

There  are  some  ancient  buildings  in  this  locality, 
which  appear  to  have  been  erected  for,  and  used  in, 
agricultural  pursuits,  by  the  Halsalls  of  old,  when  they 
farmed  their  own  lands;  and  a  few  paces  more 
southward  stands  an  ancient  dwelling,  at  which  a 
worthy  widow,  of  the  name  of  Rutter,  resides,  one  of 
those  useful,  deserving  people  who,  through  the 
medium  of  what  are  called  "  country  lodgings,"  offer 
and  bestow  many  comforts,  kindnesses,  and  con- 
veniences to  those  who  have  not  the  power,  or  in- 
clination, to  domicile  themselves  in  the  family  circles 
of  their  own  relatives,  or  other  near  and  dear  con- 
nexions ;  it  is  said,  that  persons  necessitated,  or  at  all 
disposed,  to  seek  for  such  things,  may  find  cleanli- 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  207 

ness,  comfort,  pure  air,  and  equally  as  pure  kindness 
and  attention  at  this  humble,  semi-rural  cottage.  On 
the  south  border  of  locality  1,  o,  there  is  evidence  of 
a  stream  of  water  having  formerly  ran  to  the  west- 
ward, across  Everton-lane,  and  so  on  through  a 
gully,  which  still  remains  on  the  south  parts  of 
localities  25,  d,  and  1,  b.  The  road  is  soughed 
underneath,  but  the  accumulation  of  water  in  the 
eastern  parts  hereabout  is  now  insignificant — for- 
merly it  was  excessive,  as  the  names  of  the  adjoining 
localities  denote,  many  of  them  being  designated  as 
connected  with  a  river — such  as  the  names  of  "  River 
Hey,"  "River  Slack,"  &c. 

There  is  nothing  sufficiently  remarkable  connected 
with  the  next  locality,  22,  g,  to  call  for  particular 
notice ;  indeed  it  may  be  as  well  to  state  here,  that 
localities  of  land  only,  unless  under  some  peculiar 
circumstances,  will  be  passed  over  in  a  cursory 
manner,  and,  in  many  cases,  without  any  notice 
whatever. 

If,  however,  a  plan  that  is  in  contemplation,  and 
which  is  actually  sketched  or  draughted  in  outline  on 
paper,  should  be  ever  earned  into  effect,  a  noble  and 
spacious  street,  and  an  elegant  square,  will  be  laid 
out  on  the  lands  marked  on  the  map  26,  a,  b,  c,  and 
d;  this  plan,  if  carried  forward,  will  comprise  180 
most  desirable  building  lots. 

Proceeding  southward  (having  passed  across  the 
west  end  of  Mill-lane)  by  the  map,  the  observer's  eye 
will  fall  on  .the  localities  42,  a,  42,  b,  42,  c,  and 


208  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

42,  d\  on  the  latter  of  which  stands  a  good  house 
and  out-buildings,  erected  by  the  late  Doctor  Gleave, 
•whose  family,  in  the  year  1790,  were  the  proprietors 
of  all  the  localities  now  immediately  under  considera- 
tion; and  in  which  family,  the  most  part  of  these 
properties  still  remains  vested. 

There  was  formerly  an  ancient  dwelling  that 
stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  house,  and  part  of 
the  ancient  edifice  still  remains  on  the  south  of,  and 
adjoining  to  the  present  house, — the  old  part  has  the 
appearance  of  a  diminutive  cottage,  or  dub-down. 
The  tenant  of  this  villa  is  William  Russel,  Esq.,  a 
highly  respectable  merchant  of  Liverpool.  Previous 
to  the  licensing  of  the  present  coffee-house  on  Ever- 
ton-brow,  the  old  house,  which  was  taken  down  by 
Dr.  Gleave,  had  long  been  a  coffee-house,  or,  ac- 
cording to  the  idiom  of  its  day,  a  public-house,  famed 
far  and  near  for  the  superior  and  savoury  manner  in 
which  beef-steaks  were  cooked,  and  served  up  to  the 
guests,  and  of  course  was  much  frequented  by  the 
bon  vivants  of  former  days ;  and  even  after  the  house 
lost  its  licence,  its  celebrity  was  retained,  for  the 
cook,  or  some  successor  of  her's,  made  and  sold  a 
rich  kind  of  cake,  which  was  much  esteemed  and 
greatly  sought  for  by  constant  customers,  Sunday 
saunterers,  and  holiday  idlers.  When  this  place  was 
a  public-house,  it  was  generally  and  extensively 
known  by  the  name  of  the  Half-way-house,  and  is 
the  place  alluded  to,  in  several  minutes  entered  on 
the  town's-books,  under  the  name  of  "  Boyd's." 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  209 

Adjoining  the  last  named  locality,  on  the  south,  is 
that  marked  10,  a,  which,  in  the  year  1790,  he- 
longed  to  Thomas  Hodgson,  Esq.  The  house  as  it 
then  stood  had  been  erected  hy  a  Mrs.  Bridge,  the 
mother  of  the  late  James  Bridge,  Esq.,  who  was  a 
merchant  of  eminence  in  Liverpool. 

Since  Mr.  Hodgson's  time,  the  villa  has  been 
owned  and  resided  at  by  the  late  and  present  town- 
clerks  of  Liverpool,  the  Messrs.  Statham,  father*  and 
son,  and  to  those  gentlemen  the  place  is  indebted 
for  the  improved  state  to  which  it  is  now  brought ; 
indeed,  they  much  increased  the  dimension  of  the 
mansion,  and  in  a  great  measure  converted  the  villa 
into  what  it  now  is — a  pleasant  and  commodious 
place  of  genteel  residence. 

The  villa  is  now  the  property  and  residence  of  the 
Rev.  Jonathan  Brooks,  a  magistrate,  to  whom  the 
inhabitants  of  Everton  are  frequently  considerably 
indebted,  for  the  able  and  efficient  manner  in  which 
he  performs  his  magisterial  duties  in  their  concerns : 
and  it  may  be  added,  that  to  the  able,  independent, 
and  impartial  manner  in  which  that  reverend  gentle- 
man exercises  the  judicial  power  with  which  he  is  very 
frequently  invested,  the  public  at  large  are  also  highly 
indebted;  his  measures  appear  to  be  promptly  and 
appropriately  adapted  to  protect  the  property  and  lives 
of  the  community.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Brooks  has  recently 
become  rector  of  Liverpool ;  as  a  preacher  he  stands 

*  Richard  Statham,  Esq.,  the  late  town  clerk  of  Liverpool,  who  died 
27th  March,  1820,  aged  75  years. 

P 


210  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON, 

almost  unrivalled,  in  that  town,  greatly  as  it  abounds 
with  able  and  eloquent  ministers  of  the  gospel. 

There  is  much  that  is  highly  interesting  in  the 
next  locality,  which  is  marked  18,  b,  on  the  map, 
and  is  on  the  south  and  east  of  the  one  last  noticed. 
In  the  year  1790,  the  late  James  Plumptou,  Esq. 
was  the  owner  of  this  locality,  it  being  then  a  piece 
of  pasture  land,  containing  2 A.  OR.  22p.  About  five 
years  ago,  it  was  purchased  by  subscription,  and  was 
surrounded  with  handsome,  strong,  and  high  walls, 
and  dedicated  to  the  uses  of  a  burial  ground,  under 
the  appellation  of  "  The  Low-hill  Cemetery ;"  but 
subsequently  its  name  has  been  changed  to  that  of 
"  Necropolis." 

The  Necropolis  is,  in  reality,  altogether  within  the 
township  of  Everton,  at  a  few  yards  distant  from  West 
Derby  or  Low-hill,  there  being  only  Rake-lane  between 
the  townships ;  and  as  this  repository  of  the  dead  is 
most  conveniently  accessible  from  Liverpool  by  the  two 
main  roads  which  lead  from  that  populous  town  to  Low- 
hill,  it  is  probably  judicious,  though  not  strictly  correct, 
to  give  it  the  name  of  "  The  Low-hill  Necropolis." 

The  design  and  uses  of  this  undertaking  are  highly 
deserving  of  eulogy,  and  it  is  admirably  adapted,  in 
point  of  situation,  to  answer  every  purpose  of  its  pro- 
jectors ;  it  lies  at  a  properly  remote  distance  from  the 
crowded  scenes  of  vitality ;  its  high  walls  protect  the 
bodies  of  the  dead  from  profane  disturbance ;  its 
appearance  wears  a  quiet  and  solemn,  yet  (if  the 
word  may  be  used)  cheerful  air;  in  fine,  it  is  just 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  211 

such  a  spot  as  the  good  children  of  mortality  would 
select  wherein  to  have  their  last  bed  made.  The 
estahlishment  is,  indeed,  not  less  a  credit  to  its  pro- 
jectors and  proprietors,  than  it  is  a  convenience  of 
the  first  magnitude  to  its  populous  neighbourhood. 

There  are  many  excellent  regulations  under  which 
the  Necropolis  is  conducted,  the  particulars  of  which 
will  be  given  in  the  Appendix ;  but  there  is  one  of 
great  value,  in  a  liberal  and  enlightened  point  of 
view,  which  must  be  mentioned  here,  and  that  is, 
the  permission  of  having  funeral  obsequies  performed 
by  pastors  of  any  religious  persuasion,  at  the  choice 
and  will  of  the  friends  of  the  deceased.  This  privi- 
lege forms  a  strong  inducement  to  many  individuals 
of  the  community  to  have  their  remains  laid  amongst 
those  of  others,  with  whom  in  life,  though  of  different 
sects,  they  commingled  in  amity  and  good  fellowship. 
Why  should  we  be  over  mindful  who  is  our  next 
neighbour  in  the  grave  ?  let  not,  then,  even  the 
shadow  of  a  thought  arise  to  instigate  us  to  over- 
nicety,  in  the  choice  of  a  last  earthly  home ;  or  if 
such  a  thought  will  intrude,  let  reason  and  Christian 
charity  overrule  it.  Before  taking  leave  of  this  sub- 
ject, it  may  not  be  irrelevant  to  notice  concisely  the 
architectural  embellishments  and  conveniences  of  this 
cemetery. 

The  whole  of  the  principal,  or  south  frontage  of 
the  Necropolis,  is  of  plain,  handsome  white  stone; 
in  the  centre  of  that  front,  are  iron  gates,  separated 
by  and  suspended  from  two  strong  and  handsome 


212  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

pillars,  which  prop  and  support  the  pediment-wall 
that  crosses  and  crowns "  the  entrance.  That  part  of 
the  cemetery  which  fronts  Everton-lane  is  fenced  in 
by  a  wall  of  similar  stone,  13  feet  high;  the  other 
parts  of  this  extensive  burial-ground  are  surrounded 
by  brick  walls  of  similar  height.  The  entrance,  or 
iron  gates,  at  the  south  front,  are  flanked  with  two 
handsome  buildings,  in  the  Grecian  style  of  archi- 
tecture ;  that  on  the  west  is  the  registrar's  or  resident 
minister's  house,  and  that  on  the  east  is  dedicated  to 
the  performance  of  devotional  and  sepulchral  rites  and 
ceremonies.  In  the  last  named  edifice  is  a  large  apart- 
ment, or  chapelry,  where  funeral  processions  are  admit- 
ted immediately  on  their  arrival  at  the  cemetery. 

To  fix  a  stationary  registrar,  or  resident  minister 
of  religion,  on  the  spot,  is  in  perfect  keeping  with  the 
general  design  and  purposes  of  this  institution ;  and 
serves,  in  a  high  degree,  to  give  to  the  establishment 
a  requisite  air  of  sanctity.  The  Rev.  John  Bruce  is 
the  present  resident  minister,  who  appears  at  all 
tunes  courteously  inclined  to  furnish  any  desired 
information  relative  to  the  ceremonies  and  regula- 
tions of  the  place. 

What  now  remains  to  be  noticed  of  the  south  dis- 
trict of  Everton  will  require  but  a  limited  space. 
From  the  cemetery,  the  boundary  line  of  Everton 
crosses  Rake-lane,  and  passing  along  the  south  side 
of  locality  18,  f,  again  joins,  and  continues  to  run 
eastwardly  along  that  lane,  on  which  extensive  line 
there  were,  until  lately,  only  two  cottages,  which 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  213 

stand  on  locality  31,  cj  but  a  new  street  has  been 
recently  laid  out,  and  about  twenty  houses  are  now 
building,  on  locality  18,  c;  and  locality  18,  ft  also 
seems  destined  to  be  soon  covered  with  houses.  On 
arriving  at  the  south  end  of  Boundary-lane,  the 
boundary  line  runs  due  north,  and  on  that  entire  line 
there  is  only  one  dwelling,  which  stands  at  the  north 
end  of  Boundary-lane,  and  is  called  Whitefield-house, 
which  was  erected  about  twenty  years  ago  by  the  late 
Mr.  Bailey,  a  master  tailor,  of  Liverpool.  There  is, 
however,  a  garden  in  Boundary-lane,  in  which  stands, 
very  deeply  recessed,  a  small  cottage,  where  people 
resort  to  drink  tea,  and,  in  the  season,  to  feast  on 
strawberries  and  cream.  This  place  is  the  property 
of  E.  Gibbon,  Esq.,  a  most  respectable  gentleman  of 
Liverpool.  Whitefield-house  is  a  pleasant  rural  resi- 
dence, but  solitary  and  lonely  in  winter ;  Thomas 
Reddish,  Esq.,  an  extensive  wholesale  grocer  of 
Liverpool,  is  its  present  proprietor. 

On  the  north  side  of  the  south  district  there  are 
only  two  domiciles,  one  of  which  stands  at  the  north- 
east corner  of  locality  20,  d,  and  is  the  property  and 
residence  of  Edmund  Mawdsley,  Esq.,  the  grandson 
of  an  old  Everton  noble,  the  late  Mr.  Edward  Rice, 
and  a  lineal  descendant  of  a  long  line  of  Everton 
ancestors.  Mr.  Mawdsley  was  a  currier,  but  has 
retired  from  business,  to  enjoy,  as  joint-heir,  the 
landed  possessions  of  his  forefathers.  Of  the  Rice 
family  more  will  be  stated  hereafter. 

The  other  dwelling,  on  the  north  side  of  the  south 


214  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

district,  is  that  one  of  Mr.  Pyke's  which  was  described 
at  the  commencement  of  this  section. 

There  are  a  few  humble  dwellings  in  the  interior 
of  the  south  district,  at  the  east  end  of  Mill-lane, 
fixed,  by  a  strange  singularity  of  taste,  in  a  lonely, 
and,  as  the  common  saying  is,  "  an  out-of-the-way 
place."  There  are  also  some  houses  erecting  at  the 
south-west  part  of  Mill-lane,  some  of  which,  to  all 
appearance,  will  be  of  very  moderate  size,  and 
would,  were  it  not  that  they  will  be  skreened  by 
a  larger  dwelling  on  their  west,  much  deteriorate 
the  respectable,  and  even  elegant  plan,  on  which 
Mr.  Plumpton  has  commenced  at  the  west  side  of 
Everton-lane. 

Thomas  Molyneux,  of  Newsham,  Esq.,  a  magis- 
trate of  the  county,  and  an  alderman  of  the  borough 
of  Liverpool,  owns  locality  32,  a,  and  Mr.  Thomas 
Widdowson,  of  Knotty  Ash,  a  descendant  of  an 
ancient  Everton  family,  owns  localities  31,  a,  31,  b, 
and  31,  c. 

The  localities  28,  a,  and  28,  6,  are  still  the  pro- 
perty of  a  family  of  ancient  standing,  named  Livesley, 
and  which,  in  former  days,  long  dwelt  on  the  borders 
of  Everton,  on  the  south  side  of  Rake-lane. 

The  locality  18,  c,  is  the  property  of  Thomas 
Banner,  Esq.,  a  highly  respectable  accountant  of 
Liverpool.  It  is  here  that  the  builder  is  now  so 
busy,  running  up  clusters  of  houses  with  almost 
magical  haste,  which  savour  more  of  town,  than 
of  rural  operations. 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  215 

SOUTH-WEST  DISTRICT. 

The  south-west  district  of  Everton  is  bounded  on 
the  north,  hy  Everton-brow  and  Everton-village ;  on 
the  east,  by  Everton-lane ;  on  the  south,  by  a  strip 
of  land  in  West  Derby,  and  by  lands  of  the  parish 
of  Liverpool ;  and  on  the  west,  also  by  lands  of  the 
parish  of  Liverpool. 

At  the  present  epoch,  the  south-west  district  of 
Everton  is  beginning  materially  to  change  its  out- 
ward appearance ;  the  architect's  pioneers  being 
busily  employed  in  clearing  and  levelling  the  surface 
of  the  ground,  and  in  laying  out  streets  and  alleys ; 
the  builders'  sappers  are  also  constantly  employed  in 
sinking  drains  and  forming  cellular  excavations,  for 
the  foundations  and  under-ground  conveniences  of 
dwellings,  of  various  dimensions,  for  honest  John  and 
Lady  Bull.  It  is  in  this  district  that  Thomas  Shaw, 
Esq.  has  recently  made  sale  of  very  considerable  and 
extensive  parcels  of  land,  to  the  amount  (as  rumour 
has  it)  in  one  bargain  alone  of  £30,000:  the  pur- 
chasers, of  course,  purpose  to  have  the  green  fields 
covered  with  dwellings  and  conveniences  requisite 
For  the  comforts,  enjoyments,  and  employments  of 
mankind. 

Mr.  Shaw  himself  has  been  recently  at  very  con- 
siderable expense  in  the  formation  of  a  long-ex- 
tended, wide,  commodious  road  or  street,  which 
effects  a  desirable  communication,  or  line  of  passage, 
from  Everton-brow  to  Upper  Islington.  It  is  about 


216  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

three  years  since  Mr.  Shaw  seriously  began  the 
formation  of  this  road — it  has  been  a  work  of  much 
labour,  and,  in  all  likelihood,  of  much  cost ;  the  solid 
rock  in  the  hilly  part  has  been  quarried  and  lowered 
several  feet,  the  hollows  have  been  filled  up  and 
raised,  until  the  street's  surface  has  been  brought 
nearly  to  a  level. 

There  are  already  several  houses  built  in  Shaw- 
street,  chiefly  in  the  north-west  quarter,  although  it 
is  only  a  few  months  since  the  first  brick  of  the 
first  of  those  houses  was  laid;*  they  are  of  various 
dimensions,  some  being  very  capacious,  and  almost 
magnificent  structures  j  nor  are  there  any  yet  erected 
in  this  street  but  such  as  would  befit  a  genteel  and 
respectable  family. 

The  lands  of  which  Mr.  Shaw  has  recently  made 
so  extensive  a  sale,  lie  on  the  west  side  of  Shaw- 
street,  and  will  soon  become  a  human-hive,  plentifully 
stocked  with  swarms  of  bipeds,  who,  for  want  of 
accommodation  and  space,  must  emigrate  from  the 
over-crowded  hive  of  Liverpool. 

The  east  or  upper  side  of  Shaw-street  still  retains 
a  sort  of  semi-rural  character ;  along  its  whole  line 
excellent  houses,  with  gardens  in  their  rear,  will 
doubtless,  ere  long,  be  constructed,  and  afford  most 
delightful  abodes  to  the  busy  denizens  of  Liverpool, 
who,  at  a  very  trifling  exertion,  might  daily  walk 
from  the  Rialto  to  their  meals,  and  nightly  to  their 
quiet  beds. 

*  Autumn  of  1829. 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  217 

Commencing  the  survey  of  the  south-west  district, 
where  Everton  borders  or  touches  on  Low-hill,  and 
directly  opposite  to  the  cemetery  on  the  west,  the 
first  object  of  notice  is  a  villa,  on  which  stands  a 
splendid  mansion,  built  in  the  first  instance  by  a 
family  named  Fabious;  afterwards  enlarged  by  the 
family  named  Johnson  already  noticed ;  but  very 
considerably  improved  and  embellished  by  the  late 
William  Gregson,  Esq.,  grandfather  to  the  present 
proprietor,  who,  together  with  this  villa,  owns  certain 
other  contiguous  lands,  all  bearing  the  figure  5,  on 
the  map. 

The  exterior  of  the  mansion  here  alluded  to  does 
not  present  to  the  observer  any  traits  of  magnificence, 
but  its  interior  economy  and  arrangements  are,  or  at 
all  events  were,  splendid,  if  not  superb.  During  the 
time  it  was  the  residence  of  the  late  John  Gregson, 
Esq.,  its  interior  was  splendidly  furnished,  in  a  style 
of  elegance  seldom  exhibited  beyond  the  precincts  of 
the  metropolis.  At  this  mansion,  a  prince  of  the 
blood-royal  (the  Duke  of  Gloucester — then  Prince 
William)  was  frequently  entertained  in  the  most 
sumptuous  manner.  Some  fifty  or  sixty  years  ago, 
the  public  road  was  swerved  or  diverted  from  its 
straight  line,  to  give  this  villa  a  better  appearance, 
and  to  remove  the  noise  and  bustle  of  a  public  road 
farther  from  its  front  \  which  measure  reversed  the  old 
adage,  or  motto,  of  "pro  bono  publico"  A  time  may 
arrive,  however,  when  the  grounds  of  this  villa  will 
be  converted  into  building  plots,  and  then,  perhaps, 


218  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

the  authorities  of  Everton  will  he  enahled  to  arrange, 
to  the  satisfaction  of  all  parties,  for  the  return  of  the 
road  to  the  direction  it  originally  took. 

Some  twenty  years  ago,  the  Gregson  family  ceased 
to  make  this  villa  their  place  of  residence ;  since  when 
it  has  heen  in  the  occupation  of  many  aristocratic 
families,  and  is  now  in  that  of  Adam  Lodge,  Esq.,  a 
most  respectahle  and  eminent  merchant  of  Liverpool. 
At  a  few  paces  distant,  on  the  south,  from  the  south 
entrance  gates  of  the  Gregson  villa,  there  is  a  public 
well,  fenced  off  from  the  parapet  of  the  highway  by  a 
good  iron  palisade ;  the  water  from  this  well  is  pro- 
cured by  direct  access  to  the  liquid  itself,  through  the 
medium  of  a  few  stone  steps ;  it  is  free  to  the  public, 
and  seldom  dry.  The  Gregsons  of  this  family  have 
been  long  conspicuous  in  the  affairs  of  Liverpool ;  it 
is,  therefore,  in  the  annals  of  that  place  where  their 
biography  must  be  sought.  In  the  affairs  of  Everton, 
none  of  them  seem  to  have  interfered,  excepting  the 
late  William  Gregson,  Esq. 

The  boundary  land,  or  border  of  Everton,  as  it 
leads  to  the  west  from  the  south  part  of  the  Gregson 
villa,  buries  itself  behind  a  narrow  slip  which  fronts 
to  Brunswick-road,  in  Low-hill,  and  is  the  property 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Formby,  of  Formby.  Of  this  south 
border  of  the  south-west  district  of  Everton  little  need 
be  stated,  there  being*  not  a  building  on  its  whole 
line :  neither  was  there  a  single  architectural  erection 
on  the  west  border  of  the  same  district  in  the  year 

*  1829. 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  219 

1 790 ;  and  even  to  this  day,  only  one  dwelling  is  to 
be  found  on  that  entire  length  of  line ;  indeed,  with 
the  exception  of  Carver-street,  and  an  opening  now 
formed  at  the  south  end  of  Shaw-street,  the  south  and 
the  west  boundary  lines  of  this  district  are  hemmed  in 
by  the  lands  of  Liverpool. 

The  last-named  dwelling  stands  on  locality  49,  a, 
and,  in  the  year  1 790,  was  the  property  of  William 
Roscoe,  Esq.,  of  Liverpool,  a  gentlemen  whose  merits 
are  so  universally  known,  and  whose  fame  is  so  firmly 
established,  that  nothing  can  be  stated  in  these  pages 
to  enhance  the  one  or  extend  the  other. 

In  search  of  data  to  frame  this  treatise,  the  follow- 
ing anecdote  has  been  furnished:  it  is  given  as 
received ;  and  on  him  who  supplied  it  must  rest  the 
onus  to  prove  its  claim  to  veracity.  "  William  Roscoe, 
Esq.  and  the  late  William  Neilson,  Esq.  were,  when 
youths,  inmates  at  the  establishment,  warehouse,  or 
shop  of  the  late  Mr.  John  Sibbald,  stationer  and  book- 
seller, of  Old  Castle-street,  Liverpool.  During  their 
sojourn  at  Mr.  Sibbald' s,  it  was  the  custom  of  the  late 
Mr.  Aspinwall,  a  solicitor  of  Liverpool,  to  visit  the 
worthy  stationer's  shop.  Mr.  Aspinwall  being  in 
want  of  an  apprentice,  fixed  his  inclination  on  Mr. 
Sibbald's  young  friends,  and  urgently  requested  that 
one  of  them  should  exchange  the  study  of  the  belles 
lettres  for  that  of  the  law.  Mr.  Sibbald  seemed  in- 
clined to  keep  young  Roscoe  in  the  magazine  of  the 
muses,  but  the  solicitor  was  more  strongly  inclined  to 
draw  the  youth  from  the  flowery  paths  of  literature 


220  «<  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

into  the  sinuous,  crooked,  labyrinthal  avenues  of  law, 
and  eventually  succeeded."  This  anecdote  may  appear 
simple  and  pointless,  but  it  naturally  gives  rise  to  the 
following  reflection  and  question.  How  oft  is  Provi- 
dence apt  to  indulge  in  what,  to  us  short-sighted  mor- 
tals, seems  to  be  strange  whims! — had  not  young 
Roscoe  been  removed  from  Mr.  Sibbald's  garden  of 
poesy  and  prose,  what  flowers  of  literature  might  he 
not  have  raised  ?  for  at  the  most  critical  period  of  his 
life,  they  removed  him  from  the  truly  delightful,  fasci- 
nating, and  fertile  fields  of  Mount  Helicon,  to  toil  and 
delve  in  the  law's  dry,  hard,  and  arid  plains ;  but  in 
which,  it  is. true,  many  skilful  and  penetrative  men 
reap  golden  harvests. 

Mr.  Roscoe  himself  dwelt  at  this  villa  for  a  time, 
but  subsequent  to  the  year  1790  he  disposed  of  it, 
and  most  probably  to  the  late  Mr.  Ewart,  who  resided 
for  a  few  years  at  the  once  elegant  mansion  that  is 
built  on  this  lot.  It  was,  both  in  Mr.  Roscoe' s  and 
Mr.  E wart's  time,  a  delightful  place  of  residence, 
although  seated  on  the  verge  of  a  populous  town ;  but 
very  recently  the  face  of  the  adjacent  ground  has 
been  much  altered — the  builder  is  busy  in  its  very 
precincts,  the  villa  itself  is  become  a  wilderness,  and 
the  mansion  may  be  almost  termed  an  excrescence, 
for  its  size,  and  still  intrinsic  value  and  handsome 
appearance,  are  altogether  out  of  keeping  with  the 
present  state  of  its  vicinity.  This  villa  is  the  property 
of  the  family  of  the  late  William  Ewart,  Esq.,  a  gen- 
tleman whose  good  fortune  in  trade,  at  Liverpool,  was 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  221 

scarcely  second  to  any  other  individual  of  that  town. 
It  is  little  more  than  twenty  years  since  Mr.  Ewart 
added  to  his  original  Everton  possessions  by  the  pur- 
chase of  localities  25,  e,  25,  f,  and  25,  g,  for  (as  on 
dits)  £2000  paid  down,  and  an  annuity  of  £50  to  the 
late  Mrs.  Fisher  for  life.  Mr.  Ewart,  who  died  8th 
October,  1823,  was  the  owner  of  the  St.  Domingo, 
estate  for  a  short  period,  about  the  year  1811.  The 
localities  last  purchased  by  Mr.  Ewart,  25,  e,  f,  g, 
are  becoming  valuable;  their  north  front  is  exactly 
opposite  to  that  handsome  pile  of  buildings — the 
Crescent  of  Everton :  and  the  architect  seems  to  have 
made  the  first  of  his  operations  by  felling  the  timber 
which  grew  on  the  borders  of  these  fields,  and  by 
intersecting  the  land  with  intended  streets. 

Proceeding  up  Everton-brow,  the  next  locality  on 
the  east  to  the  last-named  is  that  marked  1,  i.  From 
time  immemorial,  and  until  very  recently,  this  place 
was  pasture  land,  but  its  green  sward  is  now  ploughed 
up,  and  its  site  becomes  rapidly  covered  with  pile  on 
pile  of  burnt  clay :  the  cattle  of  the  Liverpool  dairy- 
men, which  used  to  walk  to  this  pasture,  with  little 
exertion,  have  now  to  proceed  much  further  in  quest 
of  nutritive  herbage.  Amongst  other  domiciles  lately 
erected  on  this  last-named  lot  is  that  of  the  Misses 
Latham,  the  worthy  aunts  of  Thomas  Shaw,  Esq., 
whose  dwelling  is  opposite  to  Watmough-street ;  and 
where  those  ladies  are  passing  quiet  and  seemingly 
happy  lives,  practising  and  enjoying  the  rites  of  hos- 
pitality with  a  numerous  and  select  circle  of  acquaint- 


222  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

ance.  The  other  architectural  erections,  finished  or 
in  progress  of  completion,  do  not  call  for  remark  or 
notice  here. 

The  locality  1,  Jc,  which,  on  the  east,  adjoins  the  lot 
last-named,  was  a  beautiful  piece  of  land,  hut  the 
formation  of  Shaw-street,  and  of  other  new  roads,  has 
materially  changed  its  appearance,  where,  some  few 
years  ago,  happy,  jocund  boys  and  girls  were  wont  to 
disport  in  holiday  time;  but  they  must  now  seek  a 
play-ground  in  some  more  remote  sylvan  scene,  for 
the  grassy,  velvet  covering  of  this  place  is  destroyed. 
At  the  north-east  part  of  this  locality,  which  forms  the 
north  end  of  Shaw-street,  a  number  of  houses  are 
erected,  as  has  been  before  noticed.  The  views  from 
the  west  parts  of  these  habitations  are  commanding 
and  delightful,  and  the  street  in  their  front  is  bold, 
spacious,  and  very  wide.* 

The  locality  1,  n,  is  a  pretty  little  garden  spot,  in 
the  occupation  of  a  very  deserving  man,  Mr.  Halliday, 
of  the  Everton  coffee-house.  Next  to  the  last-named 
locality  is  that  marked  1,  m,  on  which  the  cottage 
styled  "  Prince  Rupert's  Quarters  "  stands,  of  which 
notice  has  been  already  taken  in  the  section  of  "  Anti- 
quities." There  is,  however,  a  small  charming  spot 
of  land  in  the  rear,  or  on  the  south  of  the  cottage, 
which  deserves  some  slight  notice :  it  is  said  once  to 

*  It  must  not  be  omitted  to  state  here,  that  Thomas  Shaw,  Esq.,  has 
given  to  the  public  road  a  long  slip  or  slice  of  land  from  off  the  north 
side  of  this  field  (1,  k),  running  from  the  north  end  of  Shaw-street 
westwardly  j — the  land  so  given  is,  at  its  broadest  part,  near  ten  yards  in 
breadth. 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  223 

have  been  a  bowling-green, — it  is  the  veritable  domi- 
nion of  privacy,  and  yet  an  admirer  of  fine  views  and 
busy  scenes  could  not  desire  a  better  station,  for  from 
this  commanding  spot,  during  the  live-long  day,  most 
interesting  objects  lie  before,  and  pass  in  full  view  of, 
the  observer;  and  from  hence,  there  is  little  doubt, 
Prince  Rupert  directed  many  of  his  operations  against 
Liverpool,  during  his  memorable  siege  of  that  place, 
in  the  year  1644 — tradition,  indeed,  declares  that  he 
formed  a  battery  on  this  very  platform. 

Adjoining  the  last-named,  on  the  east,  is  locality 
65,  a,  which,  in  the  year  1790,  was  the  property  of 
the  late  George  Goring,  Esq.,  who  was  a  broker,  and 
afterwards  a  merchant,  much  engaged  in  the  trade  of 
Liverpool,  and  who  died  6th  March,  1818,  aged  sixty- 
four  years;  he  was  an  affable,  hilarious,  obliging 
member  of  society ;  and  for  many  years  actively  and 
usefully  employed,  when  his  other  avocations  per- 
mitted, in  gratuitously  superintending  the  municipal 
affairs  of  the  township.  This  property  is  still  in  the 
possession  of  his  relatives,  the  Misses  Green,  who  are 
the  nieces  of  the  late  Mr.  Goring :  at  present  the 
place  is  in  the  occupancy  of  Mr.  George  Syers,  of 
his  Majesty's  customs,  of  whom  it  must  suffice  to  say 
here,  that  he  is  not  behind  his  neighbours  in  the  prac- 
tice of  hospitality,  good  fellowship,  and  philanthropy. 

Some  time  during  the  last  century,  an  officer  of  the 
revenue  chanced  to  be  invited  to  the  house  of  Mr. 
Goring,  who  entertained  him  with  a  bottle  of  most 
excellent  wine ;  but  before  the  last  of  the  vinous 


224  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

liquid  was  poured  out,  a  handsome  seal,  which  was 
dangling  from  the  host's  watch,  caught  the  officer's 
attention,  who,  at  his  own  request,  was  permitted  to 
examine  the  bauble;  for  which  condescension  Mr. 
Goring,  a  few  days  afterwards,  was  visited  with  a 
charge  for  single  duty  on  armorial  bearings,  and 
given  to  understand,  that  he  was  indebted  to  the 
goodness  of  his  wine  for  the  favour  of  exemption 
from  double  duty,  or  that  part  of  the  charge  which 
goes  into  the  officer's  own  pocket.  Mr.  Goring, 
it  is  said,  properly  appreciated  his  being  favoured 
in  this  way. 

Adjoining  the  last  named,  on  the  east,  is  locality 
66,  a,  which,  in  the  year  1 790,  was  the  property  of 
the  late  Robert  Green,  Esq.,  once  an  eminent  silver- 
smith, of  Liverpool.  Mr.  Green  erected  the  hand- 
some house  now  standing  on  this  lot,  at  the  same 
time  with  that  which  Mr.  Goring  built  on  his  ad- 
joining lot — they  may,  indeed,  be  styled  twins,  being, 
as  it  were,  under  one  roof.  This  place  also  belongs 
to  the  Misses  Green,  and  is  tenanted  by  a  respectable 
family  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  named  Robson. 

Locality  48,  a,  is  the  next  on  the  east  to  the  last 
named,  where  is  also  a  good  house,  erected,  some 
fifty  years  ago,  by  the  late  Anthony  Tristram,  Esq., 
whose  exertions  in  the  business  of  a  saddler,  at 
Liverpool,  were  well  rewarded.  In  the  year  1790, 
the  place  belonged  to  his  daughter,  the  late  Miss 
Dorothy  Tristram,  and  is  now  the  property  of  George 
Brown,  Esq.,  who,  as  a  denizen  of  Everton,  will  be 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  225 

noticed  hereafter.  This  villa  is  in  the  occupation  of 
a  near  relative  of  Mr.  Brown,  being  the  residence  of 
Mr.  George  Withers,  formerly  a  merchant,  but  now 
the  able  secretary  and  practical  conductor  of  affairs 
at  Lloyd's,  in  Liverpool. 

In  a  cluster,  on  the  east  and  south  of  the  last 
named  villa,  are  the  localities  25,  a,  25,  b,  25,  c,  and 
25,  d,  all  of  which  were  the  property  of  the  late  John 
Seacome,  Esq.,  and  were  sold  by  his  executors  to  the 
late  John  Fisher,  Esq.,  an  eminent  ship-builder  of 
Liverpool,  and  were  long  in  his  occupancy.  Mr. 
Fisher,  who  died  in  1791,  married  a  daughter  of  the 
above-named  Mr.  Seacome,  who  resided  at  this  place 
until  her  death,  which  took  place  in  the  year  1812. 
The  good  family-house  and  out-buildings  on  this 
property  were  erected  by  the  late  Mr.  Seacome,  and 
altogether  form  an  agreeable  residence,  there  being 
sufficient  land  annexed  to  amuse,  and  even  tolerably 
well  employ,  an  amateur  agriculturist. 

The  Seacomes  of  Everton  have,  for  a  very  long 
period,  been  proprietors  of  lands  and  other  possessions 
in  the  township :  at  times  they  have  been  most  evi- 
dently conspicuous  characters  in  the  place,  and  long 
ranked  as  nobles  of  Everton.  Much  of  the  landed 
property  of  the  last  of  the  Everton  Seacomes  remains 
in  the  possession  of  his  grandchildren  of  other  names, 
and  particularly  that  of  Ellison.  The  name  of  Sea- 
come  is  extinct  at  Everton,  or  lies  dormant  in  the 
town's  documents,  and  in  old  title  deeds ;  but  it 

Q 


226  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

will,  doubtless,  long  live  in  the  grateful  recollection  of 
its  heirs. 

Most  of  the  localities  bearing  the  figures  16  now 
belong  to  the  Ellison  family,  chiefly  indeed  to  the 
very  deserving  and  respectable  head  of  that  family, 
Seacome  Ellison,  of  Litherland,  Esq. 

Mr.  Ellison  has  recently  sold  a  field,  16,  f,  for 
nearly  £3000,  which,  together  with  two  other  closes  of 
land,  measuring  in  the  whole  4A.  IR.  6p.,  were  bought 
by  one  of  his  ancestors  on  the  29th  July,  1724,  for 
£84  10s.,  and  are  leasehold  for  1000  years,  at  a  quit 
rent  of  Is.  per  annum  per  acre. 

In  the  year  1817,  the  parties  interested  in  the  late 
Mr.  Seacome's  property  obtained  an  act  of  parlia- 
ment, principally  with  a  view  of  obtaining  the  liberty 
to  dispose  of  it  instanter  if  advantageous  occasions 
offered ;  for  under  the  restrictions  of  Mr.  Seacome's 
will,  no  sale  of  his  lands  could  be  effected  until  a 
youth,  then  of  tender  years,  became  of  age.  At  the 
time  the  act  was  procured  the  measure  seemed 
politic,  but  it  was  an  expensive  undertaking,  and  the 
youth  became  of  age  before  an  opportunity  arrived  to 
dispose  of  much  of  the  property.  To  exemplify  the 
probable  advantages  which  the  power  to  sell  would 
have  given,  it  may  be  stated,  that  one  field  of  the 
late  Mr.  Seacome's  was,  soon  after  the  act  was  pro- 
cured, contracted  for  at  the  price  of  £2900,  whilst 
the  rental  of  that  field  at  the  time  of  sale  only 
yielded  some  £40  per  annum,  and  which  it  had 
never  exceeded. 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  227 

There  is  a  rough  historical  draft,  or,  more  properly 
speaking,  a  technical  law  brief,  touching  certain 
events  in  which  the  township  of  Everton  is  deeply 
concerned;  a  sort  of  investigation  into  the  claim  of 
Everton  being  independent  of  the  manor  of  West 
Derby :  it  is  a  document  of  investigation  and  proof, 
substantiating  the  fact  that  Everton  is,  and  has  been 
from  time  immemorial,  a  manor  of  itself.  This  draft, 
or  history,  is  deposited  in  the  town's  chest,  where  it 
has  long  lain ;  and  in  the  schedule  of  the  contents  of 
that  chest  it  is  denominated,  "  Seacome's  History  of 
Everton."  This  draft  of  Mr.  Seacome's  is  a  counter- 
part, verbatim  et  literatim,  of  the  account  of  Everton 
which  Mr.  Gregson  has  inserted  in  his  "  Fragments 
of  Lancashire ;"  thus,  it  is  reduced  almost  to  a  cer- 
tainty, that  Mr.  Gregson' s  data  were  derived  from 
Mr.  Seacome's  draft :  indeed  he  states  that  his  data 
were  derived  from  "the  MS.  of  Isaac  Green,  Esq.," 
and  that  MS.  may  have  been,  and  most  likely  was, 
drawn  up  by  Mr.  Green,  for  it  wears  the  appearance 
of  a  lawyer's  writing.  But  the  compiler  of  the  MS., 
be  he  either  Mr.  Seaconie  or  Mr.  Green,  has,  at 
great  pains,  collected  some  excellent  and  valuable 
information  relative  to,  and  directly  bearing  on,  the 
origin  and  construction  of  the  independence  of  the 
manor  of  Everton.  After  strict  investigation,  there 
is  the  strongest  reason  to  conclude  that  the  MS. 
now  deposited  in  the  town's  chest  was  the  property 
of  a  John  Seacome,  Esq.,  who  was  an  alderman 
of  Liverpool  in  the  early  part  of  the  last  century, 


228  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

and  being  his  property,  it  acquired  the  name  of 
"  Seacome's  History  of  Everton ; "  and  with  much 
shew  of  veracity,  the  late  Isaac  Green,  Esq.  might 
be  declared  to  be  the  author.  The  gist  of  Mr.  Sea- 
come's MS.  is  given  in  this  treatise,  blended  with 
various  other  matter,  so  as  to  connect  the  isolated 
parts,  and  give  to  the  whole  a  more  regular  and 
historical  character. 

The  localities  now  under  consideration,  marked 
with  the  figures  25,  are  the  property  of  Messrs.  J. 
and  R.  Fisher,  shipwrights,  of  Liverpool,  gentlemen, 
whose  loyal  zeal  and  respectability  are  well  known 
in  that  town. 

The  mansion  of  the  Seacomes  has,  since  the  de- 
mise of  Mrs.  Fisher,  been  in  the  occupancy  of  very 
many  tenants ;  amongst  others,  our  most  exemplary 
minister,  the  Rev.  R.  P.  Buddicom,  dwelt  there  for  a 
time;  and  very  recently  a  good  and  most  excellent 
lady,  Mrs.  Kewley,  died  there. 

The  locality  25,  b,  is  a  charming  and  valuable  spot, 
and  the  township  has  lately  purchased  a  narrow  slip 
from  the  east  side  of  it,  to  effect  an  improvement  in 
the  highway,  which  has  been  considerably  widened 
at  that  part :  the  road  thereabout  is  now  safe  and 
commodious  for  all  kinds  of  vehicles,  and  for  passen- 
gers on  horseback  and  on  foot.  This  road,  until  very 
lately,  was  the  only  main  thoroughfare,  or  line  of 
communication,  between  the  village  of  Everton  and 
the  London-road;  and  three  years  ago,  at  this  its 
north  end,  it  was  a  narrow  and  inconvenient  passage, 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  229 

and  as  unsightly  as  it  was  inconvenient.  In  making 
this  improvement  to  the  road,  it  became  necessary  to 
fell  a  row  of  stately  trees,  which  stood  on  the  east 
border  of  the  field,  and  were  an  ornament  to  the  scene. 
This  is  the  only  circumstance  in  the  whole  transaction 
to  be  regretted. 

On  the  south  of  the  last-named  locality  stands  that 
which  on  the  map  is  marked  18,  a.  Of  all  the  large 
patches  of  land  in  Everton,  there  are  few,  if  any,  that 
exceed  this  lot  in  value  and  beauty :  it  has  a  most 
extensive  frontage  to  Everton-lane,  is  of  great,  though 
irregular  width,  and  possesses  most  charming  and 
extensive  prospects  on  its  whole  west  line.  Long  did 
this  delightful  spot  remain  in  verdure,  coveted  by  all 
villa-projectors,  and  tantalizing  all  speculative  builders; 
but  at  length,  in  the  year  1824,  the  owner,  James 
Plumpton,  Esq.,  who  seems  to  be  possessed  of  spirit 
and  taste,  commenced  architectural  operations  there 
himself,  and  has  constructed  some  very  delightful 
villas.  Some  lots  Mr.  Plumpton  sold,  and  on  others 
he  is  erecting  several  very  handsome  mansions. 

The  northernmost  of  these  buildings  belongs  to 
Adam  Cliffe,  Esq.,  a  denizen  of  Everton,  and  a  most 
respectable  merchant  of  Liverpool.  At  this  house  the 
Misses  Colemaii  have  established  a  seminary  of  the 
first  class,  where  respectable  females  are  boarded  and 
educated.  The  situation  of  this  seminary  might 
almost  tempt  parents  and  guardians  to  place  their 
treasures  in  its  pure  air;  but  if  confidence  may  be 
placed  in  report,  there  are  also  many  other  advantages 


230  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

obtainable  at  this  establishment,  viz.,  the  care,  kind- 
ness, and  judicious  instruction  bestowed  on  the  fair 
and  tender  charges  committed  to  the  guardianship  of 
its  talented  and  kind  conductresses. 

The  four  neighbouring  villas  on  the  south  of  Mr. 
ClifFe's  are  the  property  of  Mr.  Plumpton,  and  occu- 
pied by  Daniel  Buchanan,  Esq.,  Thomas  Sands,  Esq., 
Mrs.  Wain,  and  W.  Latham,  Esq.  The  next  villa 
on  the  south  is  that  of  W.  Fosberry,  Esq.;  and  more 
southerly,  stands  that  of  James  Logan,  Esq. 

In  Everton-lane,  very  nearly  opposite  to  where 
the  house  of  A.  Cliffe,  Esq.  now  stands,  a  severe 
conflict  took  place,  in  the  year  1812,  between  a  body 
of  the  police  of  Liverpool,  and  a  band  of  robbers. 
Those  marauders  had  frequently  stopped  and  robbed 
the  passengers  in  various  hackney-coaches  which  occa- 
sionally plied  on  the  outskirts  of  Liverpool ;  at  length 
the  police  of  Liverpool  resorted  to  stratagem,  with  a 
view  of  capturing  and  punishing  this  daring  gang  of 
banditti.  The  police-men,  being  well  armed,  placed 
themselves  in  a  hackney-coach,  soon  after  it  was  dark, 
and  proceeded  leisurely  over  Edge-hill;  and  when  they 
arrived  at  the  point  before-named  they  were  assaulted 
by  the  robbers,  who  lay  in  ambush  at  the  west  end  of 
Mill-lane  :  a  desperate  conflict  ensued  with  fire-arms 
and  sharp  weapons,  but,  strange  to  state !  no  lives 
were  lost.  The  robbers  were  at  last  discomfited,  some 
of  them  were  secured,  but  a  few  fled  and  escaped, 
taking  their  course  over  Mr.  Plumpton's  field,  in  which 
some  of  their  cast-away  fire-arms  were  found  the  next 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  231 

morning.  The  experiment  succeeded,  for  since  then 
hackney-coaches  have  been  safely  permitted  to  ply  in 
this  district. 

One  of  the  police-men,  of  bulky  size,  was  jeeringly 
likened  by  his  fellows  to  Falstaff,  for,  like  the  fat 
knight,  he  foundered  on  the  field  of  battle,  and  was 
picked  up  when  the  fray  was  over,  to  join  in  boasting 
of  the  prowess  exhibited  by  the  victorious  party. 
Those  of  the  robbers  who  were  taken  were  tried,  and 
three  of  them  were  found  guilty,  and  executed  at 
Lancaster,  in  April,  1813. 

In  Gore's  newspaper,  of  19th  November,  1812,  is 
the  following  account  of  the  affair  just  noticed.  "  On 
Friday  night  last,  about  nine  o'clock,  as  a  party  of 
police-officers  and  special  constables  proceeded  in  a 
hackney-coach  along  the  road  leading  from  Everton 
towards  Low-hill,  they  were  attacked  by  five  men, 
armed  with  a  blunderbuss  and  pistols,  who  after  break- 
ing the  coach  windows,  opened  the  doors  and  de- 
manded their  money.  Upon  finding  that  the  party 
inside  were  armed,  the  robbers  fired  into  the  coach, 
and  one  of  the  constables  having  suffered  himself  to 
be  robbed,  agreeable  to  the  directions  he  had  received, 
a  desperate  affray  took  place,  three  of  the  constables 
were,  unfortunately,  soon  disabled,  one  by  a  slug 
through  his  arm,  another  by  several  cuts  on  the 
head,  and  another  by  a  severe  cut  over  the  eye ;  we 
are  happy  to  say,  however,  that  no  lives  were  lost, 
and  two  of  the  villains  were  secured.  Two  more 
were  apprehended  in  the  course  of  Saturday  night." 


232  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

As  one  of  the  lords  of  Everton's  soil,  James 
Plumpton,  Esq.  must  have  individual  notice; — he 
is  also  the  descendant  of  a  family  which  has  been  long 
connected  with  Everton,  as  proprietors  of  valuable 
lands  in  the  township.  The  Plumptons  dwelt,  for 
a  considerable  time,  at  a  good,  but  somewhat  old- 
fashioned  house  on  the  borders  of  Low-hill,  about 
fifty  yards  distant  from  the  south-east  corner  of  the 
Gregson-villa,  where  the  present  Mr.  Plumpton  owns 
several  extensive  parcels  of  land.  If  matters  in  Ever- 
ton progress,  as  they  appear  likely  to  do,  it  may  be 
expected,  with  great  probability,  that  the  operations 
of  Mr.  Plumpton,  and  the  uses  to  which  he  is  putting 
his  landed  property,  will  result  in  his  reaping  a  some- 
what splendid  income.  There  has  been  a  singular 
peculiarity  running  through  several  generations  of 
this  family,  a  peculiarity  that  might  be  emphatically 
called  single-heirship  ; — for  the  present  James  Plump- 
ton,  Esq.  is  the  only  child  of  an  only  child's  only 
child.  It  is  due  to  Mr.  Plumpton  to  state,  that  he 
has  often  readily  and  politely  afforded  information, 
useful,  and  indeed  needful,  to  the  compilation  of  this 
treatise.  Mr.  Plumpton  now  temporarily  resides  at 
the  old-house  before  named,  at  Low-hill,  awaiting  the 
completion  of  the  mansion  he  is  building  in  Everton 
village. 

On  the  south  of  Mr.  Plumpton' s  locality,  18,  a,  is 
the  burial  ground  of  the  Anabaptists  of  Liverpool. 
This  place  was  gratuitously  presented  to  them,  on  the 
1st  March,  1707,  by  Hannah  and  Daniel  Fabious, 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  233 

who  then  dwelt  at  a  house  which  stood  on  the  site 
of  the  Gregson-villa.  The  condition  of  the  gift  was, 
that  the  place  should  ever  after  be  used  by  the  Ana- 
baptists as  a  place  of  burial.  It  is  described  as 
"  lying  on  the  east  of  Chapel-field/'  from  which,  it  is 
to  be  presumed,  a  chapel  may  at  some  remote  period 
have  been  in  that  very  field,  or  somewhere  in  its 
vicinage.  This  quiet  and  compact  cemetery  is,  how- 
ever, too  small  for  the  burial  uses  of  the  religious 
community,  or  society,  to  which  it  belongs ;  and  its 
insufficiency  of  size  may  have  originally  led  to  the 
formation  of  the  extensive  and  every  way  more  appro- 
priate sanctuary  of  the  dead  already  described — the 
Necropolis. 

This  section  must  not  be  closed  without  noticing 
the  church  now  building  in  the  south-east  quarter  of 
Shaw-street,  which  bids  fair  to  be  an  ornament  to  the 
scenery  around;  and  any  beauties  of  style  it  may  be 
found  to  possess,  when  it  is  completed,  will  be  con- 
spicuously exhibited,  for  it  will  stand  on  a  command- 
ing site.  As  far  as  the  elevation  of  this  church  has 
proceeded,  it  is  highly  creditable  to  the  architect's 
ability;  and  as  he  is  young,  it  is  not  only  sincerely 
hoped,  but  it  is  to  be  presumed,  that  the  whole,  both 
of  the  design  and  execution,  may  win  him  a  character 
for  talent,  and  lead  him  to  celebrity.  This  church  will 
be  erected  with  a  fund  raised  in  subscription  shares, 
under  the  superintendence,  and  according  to  the 
designs,  of  Mr.  John  Broadbent,  surveyor  and  archi- 
tect, of  Liverpool,  and  which,  it  is  probable,  will  be 


234  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

named  St.  Mary.  Contrary  to  customary  usage  in 
such  matters,  the  proprietors  will  build  the  church  in 
the  first  instance,  and  after  its  erection  procure  an  act 
of  parliament,  under  the  clauses  of  which  its  affairs  are 
to  be  ruled  and  conducted.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Tattershall 
is  spoken  of  as  its  intended  minister.  The  edifice  is 
admirably  situated,  being  in  a  quarter  that  has  long 
stood  in  need  of  such  a  place  of  public  worship. 

WEST  DISTRICT. 

The  west  district  of  Everton  is  bounded  on  the 
north  by  the  lands  of  Kirkdale ;  on  the  east  by  north 
and  south  Netherfield-roads ;  on  the  south  by  Ever- 
ton-brow  ;  and  on  the  west  by  the  lands  of  Liverpool. 
This  district  is  so  closely  interwoven*  with  the  lands, 
liberties,  and  houses  of  Liverpool,  on  its  whole  west 
front,  as  to  create  already  in  the  south  part  of  it  some 
difficulty  in  nicely  and  precisely  distinguishing  the 
lines  and  limits  of  the  two  townships ;  the  complexity 
is  particularly  evident  in  and  nigh  to  Fox -street  and 
Great  Homer-street,  where  the  sinuosities  of  the 
boundary  lines  are  most  irregular  and  perplexing, 
running  in  a  zig-zag  way,  forming  many  short  and 
sudden  changes  of  direction;  and  when  the  surface 
shall  be  covered  over  with  buildings,  as  it  is  very 
likely  shortly  to  be,  much  difficulty  will  be  placed  in 

*  It  is  very  laudably  determined  to  go  to  parliament  this  session  (1830) 
to  have  the  boundaries  of  Liverpool,  on  the  west  of  Everton,  distinctly, 
and,  as  it  may  be  termed,  symmetrically  defined.  If  the  matter  be 
brought  to  a  conclusion  in  time  for  the  appendix  to  this  work,  it  will  be 
inserted  there. 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  235 

the  way  of  all  who  may  be  interested  in  defining  and 
ascertaining  the  true  and  exact  boundaries ;  many 
buildings  will  be  placed  there  with  parts  seated  in 
two  townships,  as  already  are  some  houses  and  locali- 
ties in  that  neighbourhood.*  It  would  be  an  act 
materially  serving  and  accommodating  the  public, 
and  would  relieve  the  authorities  in  their  operations 
touching  rates,  assessments,  and  taxatory  collections, 
were  the  inhabitants  of  the  towns  of  Liverpool  and 
Everton  mutually  to  fix  more  definite,  clear,  and 
conspicuous  boundary  lines  in  this  quarter.  Suppose 
it  were  agreed,  that  the  east  side  of  Fox-street,  and 
the  west  side  of  Great  Homer-street,  should  form 
the  boundary  lines  thereabout ;  such  agreement 
would  give  a  palpable  distingmsTiment  to  the  liberties 
of  the  two  townships,  so  far  as  those  streets  extend, 
and  would  impose  the  responsibility  on  Everton,  to 
keep  Great  Homer-street  in  repair,  but  none  other  west 
of  it ;  and  on  Liverpool,  that  of  Fox-street,  but  none 
other  east  of  it :  nor  need  such  adjustment  be  con- 
fined to  this  particular  quarter,  it  may  be  beneficially 
extended  northward,  to  Mrs.  Potter's  land,  and  again 
in  the  rear,  or  on  the  east  side  of  Soho-street.  As  to 
Everton,  similar  arrangements  might  be  made  with 
West  Derby  and  other  townships;  in  particular  as 
regards  the  strip  of  land  opposite  the  Necropolis,  the 


*  This  passage  was  written  early  in  1829;  it  is  left  unexpunged,  not- 
withstanding the  projected  alteration  of  the  boundaries;  as  it  may  serve 
to  elucidate  the  necessity  of  having  some  better  defined  and  more  distinct 
line  of  boundary  drawn. 


236  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

land  behind  Mr.  Formby's  house,  near  Brunswick- 
road,  the  Boundary-lane  lands,  &c.  &c. 

The  road  called  Everton-brow  has,  from  time  imme- 
morial, been  the  main  passage  from  Liverpool  to 
Everton;  its  first  known  name  was  Causeway-lane, 
afterwards  it  long  went  by  the  name  of  Loggerhead- 
lane,  and  for  the  last  forty  years  it  has  been  styled 
Everton-brow,  until  recently,  the  lower  or  west  end  has 
been  honoured  with  the  more  dignified  title  of  the  Cres- 
cent. This  road  was  formerly  narrow,  and  in  poor 
plight.  It  may  serve  to  give  an  insight  into  its  former 
state,  and  also  to  shew  some  other  points  connected 
with  the  neighbourhood  of  that  thoroughfare,  to  use 
the  words  of  an  elderly  gentleman,  who  well  remem- 
bered the  circumstances  of  which  he  treats;  "The 
communication  (from  Everton)  with  Liverpool  was 
through  a  deep  sandy  lane,  the  cops  or  hedges  on 
each  side  not  being  many  yards  asunder,  nor  was 
there  any  parapet  or  foot  path  to  accommodate  pedes- 
trians :  just  within  the  limits  of  Liverpool,  at  a  long 
low  house,  where  the  late  Mr.  Nicholson  long  resided, 
was  a  small  ale-house,  near  to  a  dyer's  pond — the 
latter  surrounded  with  willows.  This  public-house 
was  called  the  Loggerheads,  and  was  of  much  cele- 
brity in  former  days,  which  it  first  obtained  from  the 
civility  of  the  landlady,  and  the  choice  and  nourishing 
qualities  of  the  viands  and  beverage  she  dispensed; 
the  sign  was  two  heads,  the  motto,  '  We  three  logger- 
heads be.' "  The  informant  somewhat  cynically  goes 
on  to  say,  "  Whether  or  not  the  sign  was  intended  as  a 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  237 

perpetual  monitor  to  the  nobles  of  Everton,  history  has 
left  us  in  the  dark."  The  same  house  has  recently 
been  again  licensed,  and  is  noAV  open  to  the  public 
under  the  name  of  "The  Loggerheads  Revived." 

The  first  object  to  be  noticed  in  the  west  district  of 
Everton  is  a  handsome,  imposing  pile  of  buildings, 
which,  commencing  at  the  west  end  of  Everton-brow, 
extends  about  two-thirds  of  the  length  of  the  north 
side  of  that  road ;  tin's  place  is  named  Everton  Cres- 
cent, and  consists  of  sixteen  excellent  houses,  well 
calculated  for  the  reception  and  uses  of  large  and 
respectable  families,  most  of  the  mansions  affording, 
in  their  interior  construction  and  arrangement,  ample 
space  and  fitness  to  entertain  extensive  parties.  The 
apartments  of  these  houses  appropriated  to  banqueting 
and  festive  purposes,  and  those  reserved  for  dormi- 
tories and  dress,  are  neatly,  nay,  in  many  instances, 
elegantly  finished ;  there  are  also  many  of  those  snug, 
warm,  and  cheerful  apartments,  so  admirably  adapted 
to  the  taste,  comfort,  and  domestic  propensities  of 
John  Bull,  where  daily  and  hourly  delicious,  racy, 
and  truly  British  scenes  of  domestic  felicity  are 
enacted. 

The  formation  of  Everton  Crescent  originated,  some 
twenty-two  years  ago,  with  a  few  spirited  gentlemen 
of  Liverpool,  of  whom  Messrs.  Webster,  Bibby,  High- 
field,  and  Scholfield  were  the  chief,  if  not  the  whole. 
In  the  year  1807,  those  gentlemen  bought  the  two 
fields  (15,  n,  15,  o)  on  the  south  fronts  of  which  the 
Crescent  stands,  and  shortly  after  the  purchase,  com- 


238  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

menced  the  erection  of  the  handsome  pile  which  now 
adorns  the  place ;  the  four  centre,  or  single-fronted 
houses,  were  the  first  huilt.  The  project  of  those 
enterprising  individuals  has  heen  completely  effected, 
and  it  is  hoped  with  pecuniary  advantage  to  them- 
selves; be  that,  however,  as  it  may,  for  so  highly 
embellishing  this  charming  spot,  they  are  entitled  to 
the  praise  and  thanks  of  the  public. 

The  Crescent  of  Everton  may  be  considered  the 
thread  of  buildings  by  which  the  towns  of  Liverpool 
and  Everton  first  became  closely  and  intimately  inter- 
woven— the  first  link  of  the  chain  which  now  connects 
the  two  townships  so  closely  together.  After  the 
Crescent  had  been  projected,  and  partly  constructed, 
other  buildings,  of  much  smaller  dimensions,  began  to 
be  erected  at  its  back  or  north  side;  nor  can  it  be 
denied  that  the  vicinage  of  these  smaller  domiciles 
diminishes  the  beauty  of  the  Crescent,  and  even  robs  it 
of  many  advantages  which  it  possessed  at  the  outset. 

It  will  not  be  expected  that  individual  notice  can 
be  taken  of  all  persons  who  dwell  in  dense  and  nume- 
rously populated  parts  of  the  township ;  the  biographer 
cannot,  even  in  brevity,  use  his  pen  without  data  to 
work  with ;  and  it  is  owing  to  the  want  of  it,  and  not 
to  disrespect  or  neglect,  that  many  worthy  and  re- 
spectable individuals  who  are,  or  have  been,  denizens 
of  Everton,  are  passed  by  without  notice;  but  every 
opportunity  will  be  taken  to  treat  of  the  lords  of  the 
soil,  and  of  other  property  in  the  township. 

A  worthy  and  wealthy  member  of  the  Society  of 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  239 

Friends  dwells,  or  very  lately  dwelt,  at  one  of  the 
Crescent  mansions — Isaac  Hadwen ;  and  from  another 
of  the  Everton  Crescent  mansions  the  late  Nicholas 
Waterhouse  (the  younger  of  the  two  persons  of  that 
name  who  have  dwelt  at  Everton,)  was  somewhat  sud- 
denly removed  from  this  to  a  better  world.  The  Lord 
giveth,  and  he  taketh  away,  and  all  that  he  does  is 
good  and  wise :  thus  the  pious  and  resigned  mind 
may  reason;  yet  greatly  sorrowful  were  a  multitude 
of  persons  at  the  sudden  removal,  in  the  strength  of 
manhood,  of  the  late  Nicholas  Waterhouse,  from  his 
afflicted  family  and  numerous  friends. 

As  a  proprietor  of  lands  in  the  township,  as  a 
daughter  of  an  Everton  noble,  and  more  particularly 
as  due  to  her  own  genuine  worth,  Miss  Rowe,  who 
also  dwells  at  the  Crescent  of  Everton,  is  entitled  to 
notice.  Miss  Rowe  is  the  last  surviving  daughter  of 
the  late  John  Rowe,  Esq.,  of  whom  mention  at  large 
has  already  been  made.  With  a  disposition  piously 
and  morally  disposed,  a  splendid  competence,  and  a 
cheerful  mind,  this  lady  passes  her  earthly  probation 
contentedly  and  exemplarily.  Many  particulars  in 
this  treatise  have  been  kindly  communicated  by  Miss 
Rowe. 

At  the  easternmost  mansion  of  the  Crescent  dwells 
John  Wright,  Esq.,  an  alderman  of  Liverpool.  Mr. 
Wright  is  one  of  the  most  popular  members  of  the 
common  council  of  Liverpool,  there  being  a  truly 
praiseworthy  spirit  of  patriotism  and  independence 


240  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

in  his  public  conduct — but  his  biography  belongs  to 
the  annals  of  Liverpool. 

On  the  east  of  the  Crescent,  separated  only  by  the 
intervention  of  Watmough-street,  stands  another  hand- 
some, imposing  pile  of  buildings.  This  cluster  has 
been  erected  within  the  last  year  or  two,  by  brothers 
of  the  family  of  Holmes,  gentlemen  of  old  and  most 
highly  respectable  standing  in  the  commercial  walks 
of  Liverpool;  at  the  two  easternmost  of  these  man- 
sions, the  brothers,  John  and  Henry  Holmes,  Esqrs. 
reside.  Another  of  these  last-noticed  mansions  is  in 
the  occupancy  of  Christopher  H.  Jones,  Esq.,  gold 
and  silver-smith,  of  Liverpool.  Of  Mr.  Jones  it  may 
be  briefly  said,  that  he  is  of  suave  manners  in  society, 
and  prompt  and  honourable  in  his  public  transactions. 

Adjoining  the  uppermost  of  Messrs.  Holmes'  pre- 
mises on  the  east,  is  locality  52,  a,  now  the  property 
and  residence  of  Latham  Hanmer,  Esq.,  of  his  Ma- 
jesty's customs,  who  has,  from  youthhood  to  this  the 
autumn  of  his  life,  honourably  and  diligently  per- 
formed his  public  and  private  duties ;  and  fortune  has 
amply  repaid  his  diligence  and  attention,  as  she  gene- 
rally does  in  similar  cases. 

The  erection  of  the  mansion  that  graces  Mr.  Han- 
mer's  villa  was  commenced  about  the  year  1 790,  by  a 
Mr.  William  Mayor,  continued  by  the  late  Nathaniel 
Me  Knight,  Esq.,  and  nearly  completed  as  it  is  now 
by  Benjamin  Grey,  Esq.  There  is  a  narrow  private 
road  or  passage  on  the  east,  adjoining  the  south  end 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  241 

of  Mr.  Hanmer's  locality.  The  privacy  is  established 
hy  the  presence  of  a  gate,  which  is  occasionally  closed 
— the  public  are  generally  permitted  to  use  this  road, 
though  it  is  really  and  bona-fide  private  property. 

In  the  year  1 790,  locality  55,  a,  which  is  the  next 
on  the  east  to  Mr.  Hanmer's,  was  the  property  of 
Edward  Rogers,  Esq.,  a  most  respectable  merchant 
and  broker  of  Liverpool ;  the  chief  part  of  the  elegant, 
and  then  thoroughly  rural  mansion  which  stands  on 
this  lot,  was  built  by  the  afore-named  Mr.  Mayor. 
Since  Mr.  Rogers'  time,  this  charming  villa  has  been 
the  property  of  various  persons,  and  in  the  occupancy 
of  several  tenants ;  at  present  it  is  the  residence  of 
Mrs.  Barton,  and  the  property  of  William  Dixon, 
Esq.,  a  gentleman  who  ranks  high  in  the  mercantile 
classes  of  Liverpool.  Mr.  Dixon  long  resided  at  this 
last  mentioned  mansion ;  but  some  years  ago  removed 
to  a  handsome,  commodious  house,  which  he  erected 
on  the  north  part  of  this  locality.  During  the  dread- 
ful storm  of  the  night  of  the  4th  December,  1822, 
Mr.  Dixon  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  two  very  lovely 
children,  by  the  fall  of  some  chimneys  of  the  house  at 
which  Mrs.  Barton  now  resides :  the  little  innocents 
had  not  long  retired  to  their  couch,  when  the  melan- 
choly occurrence  took  place. 

Mr.  Dixon  is  a  most  respectable  and  energetic 
member  of  Everton's  community;  possessing,  in  a 
high  degree,  the  tact  so  necessary  for  the  execution 
and  furtherance  of  public  affairs,  he  has  frequently 
stood  forward  to  render  the  township  good  service, 

R 


242  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

and  it  is  hoped  that  he  will  long  live  to  take  an  active 
part  in  the  growing  cares,  and  rapidly  expanding 
municipal  affairs  of  Everton. 

In  the  court  of  Mr.  Dixon's  present  residence,  a 
fine  female  infant  was  cruelly  exposed,  on  the  17th 
December,  1827,  where  it  was  left  by  its  unnatural 
parents,  and  is  now  maintained  at  the  township's 
charge,  under  the  name  of  Rebecca  Netherfield  ;  she 
is  a  healthy  little  girl,  but,  owing  to  a  burn,  is  likely 
to  be  a  cripple  for  life,  the  fingers  of  both  hands  having 
become  so  much  contracted  as  to  render  it  doubtful 
whether  she  ever  will  be  able  to  use  them  to  advantage. 

The  next  locality  to  Mr.  Dixon's  is  that  marked 
60,  a,  now  the  property  and  residence  of  Joseph  Simp- 
son, Esq.,  collector  of  excise,  Liverpool,  a  most  cour- 
teous and  obliging  public  officer,  and  an  example  for 
"  Jacks  in  office ; "  indeed,  were  all  public  officers, 
in  the  performance  of  their  duties,  like  this  gentleman, 
that  opprobious  term  would  soon  become  obsolete. 

Just  previous  to  the  year  1 790,  the  late  Henry  Ross, 
Esq.,  a  master-mariner  of  Liverpool,  erected  the  ex- 
cellent house  at  which  Mr.  Simpson  resides.  Mr. 
Ross,  and  his  very  worthy  eldest  son,  John,  were 
men  of  great  mechanical  talent,  the  elder  of  whom 
much  improved  on  the  mode  of  steering  vessels  at 
sea ;  as  to  his  widow,  the  late  Mrs.  Ellen  Ross,  who 
died  20th  October,  1813,  she  was  kindness  personified. 
During  the  night  of  the  great  storm  of  January, 
1802,  a  chimney  of  Mrs.  Ross's  was  blown  down,  the 
falling  mass  and  fragments  of  which  forced  their  way 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  243 

through  the  roof  into  a  bed-chamber,  where  the  late 
Mr.  John  Ross  lay,  who,  despite  of  the  storm,  was 
sleeping  soundly ;  he  was  buried  in  the  ruins,  and  all 
who  approached  the  place  were  convinced  that  he  was 
lost  to  his  family  and  to  the  world  for  ever;  with 
much  trouble  and  caution,  the  rubbish  was  removed, 
and  at  length  Mr.  Ross  was  discovered,  lying  in  a 
state  of  stupor;  on  examination,  however,  it  was 
found  that  he  had  almost  miraculously  escaped  with 
life ;  a  falling  rafter  having  interposed  a  slight  barrier 
of  opposition  to  the  weight  of  rubbish  that  lay  over  his 
body,  and  which,  through  the  kind  ordination  of  Pro- 
vidence, saved  his  life.  It  was  said  that  the  con- 
cussion or  the  fright  had  injured  his  head,  but  the 
assertion  was  erroneous :  let  his  head,  however,  have 
sustained  what  damage  it  might,  the  writer  of  this 
passage  well  knows,  that  his  heart  sustained  no  injury, 
for  after  the  accident  it  continued  to  beat  as  it  had 
done  before,  with  friendship  and  good-will  to  his 
fellows,  equal  to  that  of  the  purest  philanthropist :  he 
died  at  Messina,  17th  March,  1816. 

On  the  north  of  Mr.  Simpson's  is  the  locality  57,  a, 
the  property  and  residence  of  the  family  of  the  late 
John  Livingstone,  Esq.,  a  very  successful  merchant 
and  underwriter  of  Liverpool.  In  early  life  he  had 
been  a  master-mariner,  and  by  talent,  industry,  and 
prudence  raised  himself  to  opulence.  Some  twelve 
months  ago  he  fell  a  martyr  to  that  monarch  of  pain — 
the  gout.  The  aforenamed  Mr.  Mayor  built  the  house 
of  the  late  Mr.  Livingstone,  which  was  afterwards 


244  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

owned  and  occupied  by  an  eccentric  member  of  the 
law,  named  Turner,  from  whose  hands  it  fell  into  those 
of  a  Mr.  Gibb,  who,  about  twenty  years  ago,  erected 
the  excellent  house  which  stands  on  the  north  part  of 
this  lot. 

Adjoining  the  last-named  is  locality  56,  a,  on  which 
is  a  spacious  house,  erected  by  the  late  Thomas  Dick- 
enson,  Esq.,  and  now  belonging  to  and  occupied  by 
Mrs.  Marsh.  After  Mr.  Dickenson,  this  villa  was 
owned  and  occupied  by  a  gentleman  who  had  raised 
himself  to  affluence,  lived  here  awhile  in  splendour, 
and  died  at  Liverpool,  in  straitened  circumstances — 
an  every  day  lesson  this,  which  many  read,  but  few 
heed.  On  the  north  of  Mrs.  Marsh's  villa  are  two 
snug,  commodious,  and  comfortable  dwellings,  erected 
by  the  father  of  Mr.  Anderton,  who  dwells  at  the 
northernmost  of  them.  In  1790  they  were  the  pro- 
perty of  a  Mr.  Powell,  agent  to  the  London  cheese- 
ships,  and  now  belong  to  a  Mr.  Kevan,  of  Liverpool. 

There  is  a  narrow  passage  or  road  on  the  north  part 
of  the  last-named  premises.  Twenty-five  years  ago 
this  road  led,  to  the  westward,  as  far  only  as  the  east 
part  of  locality  1,  w,  but  for  more  than  twenty  years 
the  passage  has  been  free  to  the  public,  from  Nether- 
field-road  South  to  Fox-street,  and  may  be  now  con- 
sidered a  public  thoroughfare.  On  the  north  of  Mr. 
Ke van's  premises,  and  only  separated  therefrom  by 
the  passage  just  named,  is  locality  31,  d,  on  the  east 
part  of  which  stands  a  truly  elegant,  though  mode- 
rately-sized mansion,  erected  by  Thomas  Huson,  Esq., 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  245 

in  the  year  1809.  Mr.  Huson,  who  was  a  master- 
mariner,  and  afterwards  a  most  respectable  merchant, 
long  resided  at  this  charming  villa,  which  is  at  present 
tenanted  by  F.  Lapage,  Esq.,  a  young  merchant, 
who  has  just  commenced  his  commercial  career,  in  a 
respectable  line,  at  Liverpool.  A  cottage,  barn,  &c., 
which  stood  on  the  site  of  this  mansion,  have  been 
noticed  in  the  section  of  "Antiquities."  Searching 
into  antiquated  matters,  it  would  appear  that  this  was 
the  nearest  spot  to  Liverpool  on  which  any  Everton 
dwelling  stood  in  ancient  times,  and  so  it  continued 
to  be  for  a  great  length  of  time. 

Locality  16,  b,  stands  next  on  the  north  to  Mr. 
Huson's  villa.  Why  the  first-named  property  still 
remains  unbuilt  on,  is  marvellous ;  it  is  a  choice  spot 
of  land,  and  most  invitingly  offers  itself  to  the  gentle- 
man who  would  wish  to  construct  an  agreeable  villa, 
or  to  the  builder  who  might  look  to  profit  by  erecting 
a  dozen  or  a  score  of  good  houses. 

On  the  north  border  of  the  last-noticed  lot  is  Prince 
Edwin-street,  a  good  bold  street,  which  has  been 
formed  out  of  the  southern  sides  of  localities  22,  c, 
and  12,  d,  penetrating  also  through  the  localities 
marked  1,  rv,  and  1,  x.  All  these  four  parcels  of  land 
have  changed  owners  since  the  year  1790;  until 
lately  they  were  principally  owned  by  a  gentleman 
named  Humphreys;  but  he  has  disposed  of  them 
in  parts  to  several  gentlemen,  some  of  whom  have 
formed  elegant  villas,  and  others  are  using  their  bar- 
gains speculatively,  by  selling  the  lands  in  small 


246  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

parcels.  The  limit  of  this  work  will  not  permit  minute 
descriptions  of  the  thickly-settled  parts  of  Everton,  the 
observations,  therefore,  touching  this  street,  must  be 
concise. 

There  are  nine  houses  on  the  north  side  of  Prince 
Edwin-street,  almost  the  whole  of  which  are  handsome, 
commodious  erections,  having  on  the  south  good  and 
useful  garden-grounds;  the  easternmost  of  which 
belongs  to  William  Appleton,  Esq.,  a  respectable 
merchant,  and  a  worthy  man.  At  the  westernmost 
of  these  domiciles  resides  Mr.  Benjamin  Cope,  an 
architect  and  surveyor,  of  Liverpool,  who  was  the  first 
to  commence  architectural  operations  in  this  street, 
where  he  has  formed  many  excellent  villas,  all  of 
which,  except  his  own  residence,  he  disposed  of,  as 
they  were  completed.  Mr.  George  Robinson  resides 
near  to  Mr.  Cope,  in  an  excellent  house,  which  was 
built  by  the  former  a  few  years  ago.  Of  Mr.  Robin- 
son's intimate  connexion  with  Everton,  more  will  be 
noticed  hereafter.  A  good  part  of  the  south  side  of 
Prince  Edwin-street,  in  the  west,  has  recently  been 
purchased,  in  the  way  of  business,  by  Messrs.  Lowndes 
and  Robinson,  most  respectable  solicitors  of  Liverpool. 
In  this  quarter  great  changes  are  taking  place, — new 
buildings  constantly  starting  into  view.  The  incon- 
venience of  copyhold  tenure  begins  to  be  felt  here, 
owing  to  the  subdivision  of  the  lands  into  manifold  lots.* 

*  It  has  been  stated  to  the  author,  that  Everton  copyhold  lots  may  be 
enfranchised,  or  made  lands  of  inheritance,  on  the  payment,  after  domi- 
ciles are  erected  thereon,  of  one  whole  year's  rent  to  the  lord  of  the  manor. 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  247 

At  a  charming  villa  on  the  south  side,  and  near  to 
the  upper  or  east  end  of  Prince  Edwin-street,  resides 
David  Hodgson,  Esq.,  a  most  respectable  merchant 
of  Liverpool ;  this  villa  was  formed  by  the  late  Mr. 
Roger  Adamson,  who,  in  the  first  instance,  built  a 
small  house,  so  planned  as  to  be  easily  converted  into 
kitchens,  servants' -hall,  and  servants'  dormitories, 
at  which  Mr.  Adamson  resided  the  necessary  time, 
entered  into  a  composition  for  taxes,  and  afterwards 
built  the  handsome  mansion  that  now  stands  on  the 
lot:  it  is  perhaps  supererogatory  to  say,  that  Mr. 
Adamson  paid  no  more  taxes  for  the  great  mansion 
than  he  had  done  under  composition  for  the  small 
building  first  erected. 

Returning  now  to  travel  descriptively  along  the 
skirts  of  the  district,  the  compiler  proceeds  to  state, 

t* 

that  on  the  north  side,  at  the  upper  end  of  Prince 
Edwin-street,  stands  a  handsome  pile  of  buildings, 
consisting  of  two  commodious,  delightful,  and  it  may 
be  said,  elegant  dwellings :  these  villas  were  formed 
in  the  year  1812,  by  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Brooks,  at 
present  of  Everton-lane,  and  William  Wainwright, 
Esq.,  the  talented  and  much  respected  secretary  to 
the  Liverpool  Office  at  London.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Brooks  dwelt  for  some  years  at  the  villa  he  formed 
here,  which  is  now  tenanted  by  Samuel  Staniforth, 
Esq.,  an  alderman  of  Liverpool,  and  chief  director  of 
the  stamp  department  in  and  for  this  district.  Mr. 
Wainwright  did  not  reside  at  his  villa ;  he  disposed 


248  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

of  it  to  the  late  Charles  Sydebotham,  Esq.,  unto  whose 
heir, Greenway,  Esq.,  it  now  belongs. 

On  the  north  of  Mr.  Greenway's  villa  lies  locality 
7,  b,  which  in  the  year  1790  belonged  to  the  late 
William  Clarke,  Esq.,  banker,  of  Liverpool,  and  is 
now  the  property  of  William  Brown,  Esq.  and  his 
family,  Mr.  Brown  having  married  the  daughter  of 
the  late  owner  of  these  premises,  John  Brown  Esq., 
formerly  an  alderman  of  Liverpool,  and  who  died  at 
this  villa,  llth  March,  1810,  aged  74  years.  The 
mansion  that  graces  this  villa  was  commenced  by 
the  late  William  Skelhorn,  Esq.,  of  Liverpool,  and 
completed  by  the  late  Mr.  Brown,  who  also  erected 
the  stables,  and  formed  the  extensive  stabling  esta- 
blishment which  is  placed  on  locality  27,  a,  on  the 
east  side  of  Netherfield-road,  opposite  unto  Mr. 
Brown's  villa. 

The  encroachment  of  buildings  from  Liverpool, 
pushing  themselves  cancer-like  into  Everton's  bosom, 
tends  much  to  rob  the  genteel  residences  in  this 
neighbourhood  of  many  advantages  they  originally 
possessed.  On  the  north,  adjoining  Mr.  Brown's 
villa,  is  locality  34,  b,  where  Miss  Ellison,  a  lady  of 
cheerful,  neighbourly,  and  truly  friendly  habits  and 
feelings,  has  long  resided.  This  snug  little  domicile, 
in  the  year  1 790,  was  the  property  of  a  Mr.  Harrison, 
one  of  an  old-standing  family  in  the  township. 
About  twelve  months  ago,  W.  Brown,  Esq.  pur- 
chased this  diminutive  villa,  together  with  the  east 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  249 

part  of  locality  34,  a,  so  far  as  runs  westward  until  in 
a  line  with  the  west  end  of  locality  58,  a.  On  the 
north  of  Miss  Ellison's  residence,  at  a  few  paces  dis- 
tant, is  locality  58,  a,  which,  in  the  year  1 790,  was  the 
property  of  a  Mr.  Thomas  Wareing.  The  greater  por- 
tion of  this  lot,  (being  the  east  part  of  it)  is  now  the 
property  of  William  Robinson,  Esq.,  who  was  long  an 
eminent  stationer  and  bookseller  of  Liverpool.  There 
were  formerly  an  old  cottage  and  a  barn  on  Mr. 
Robinson's  part  of  this  lot,  but  that  gentleman  took 
them  down,  and  in  1801  constructed  a  handsome, 
commodious  dwelling-house,  on  the  north  part  of  his 
property,  at  which  he  long  resided ;  more  recently  he 
has  erected  another  excellent  house  on  the  south, 
where  he  now  resides.  These  are  two  most  delightful 
and  desirable  villas,  wearing  a  truly  pleasing  air  of 
neatness  and  gentility. 

Mr,Robinson  has  realized  ahandsome  independence, 
and  lives  in  a  state  which  some  one  has  styled  "  otium 
cum  dignitate;"  his  charming  residence  is  so  admirably 
situated,  that  it  combines  in  itself  the  advantages  of  a 
town  and  country  residence.  The  inhabitants  of 
Everton  are  much  indebted  to  Mr.  Robinson  for  his 
various  gratuitous  exertions  during  a  long  series  of 
years  in  the  township's  affairs;  indeed,  for  nearly 
thirty  years,  whenever  his  serviceable  exertions  have 
been  required,  Mr.  Robinson  has  seldom  if  ever  failed 
to  attend  municipal  meetings,  nor  has  he  ever  shrunk 
from  the  burthen  of  public  duty;  and  in  several  in- 


250  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

stances  his  exertions  have  been  of  essential  advantage 
to  the  township. 

At  the  northernmost  of  Mr.  Robinson's  villa  dwells, 
with  his  very  worthy  mother,  Mr.  Thomas  Wainright, 
a  surgeon,  who  has  lately  commenced  practice. 
There  is  very  much  to  commend  in  this  young  gen- 
tleman's suave,  agreeable,  and  polished  manners ; 
that  he  is  skilful,  there  is  little  doubt,  which  qualifica- 
tion therefore,  united  with  his  urbanity  of  manners 
and  truly  exemplary  conduct,  entitle  him  to  receive 
the  countenance  and  encouragement  of  the  Everton 
community,  and — but  enough ;  in  such  a  community 
as  that  of  Everton,  talent  and  worth  cannot  languish. 

The  remarks  touching  the  impracticability  of  de- 
scriptively individualising  the  population  of  Prince 
Edwin-street,  are  applicable  also  to  the  population  of 
Roscommon-street — a  street  which  has  been  formed 
out  of  the  south  part  of  locality  22,  b,  its  western  part 
indeed  penetrating  somewhat  into  locality  23,  e. 

Roscommon-street  is  now  pretty  closely  studded 
with  handsome  dwelling-houses,  each  having  a  neat 
court  or  garden-grounds  attached :  this  street  is  in- 
habited by  very  respectable  persons,  and  by  many 
who  move  in  the  upper  spheres  of  Everton's  society. 
At  the  westernmost  house,  on  the  south  side  of  this 
street,  dwells  Mr.  John  Davies,  who  deserves  not  only 
notice  but  praise,  for  his  enterprise  and  industry. 
Mr.  Davies  is  professedly  a  cordwainer,  but  that 
trade  may  be  deemed  only  secondary,  as  regards  his 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  251 

other  and  more  momentous  operations;  indeed,  it  would 
be  no  misnomer  to  style  him  architect  and  builder, 
for  he  has  done  much  in  these  lines :  he  has  materi- 
ally embellished  Roscommon-street,  by  erecting,  near 
to  his  own  dwelling,  several  houses,  whose  exteriors 
are  as  pleasingly  handsome  as  their  interiors  are 
commodious  and  comfortable,  and  it  may  be  said  that 
they  are  finished  with  some  degree  of  taste  and  even 
of  elegance. 

Some  excellent  houses,  on  the  south  side  of  Roscom- 
mon-street,  are  the  properties  of  George  Johnson  and 
Hugh  James  Sanderson,  Esqrs.;  these  gentlemen  are 
brothers-in-law,  and,  in  addition  to  the  houses  just 
alluded  to,  they  have  recently  made  some  extensive 
purchases  near  the  mere,  on  localities  19,  e,  19,  f, 
30,  «,  and  30,  b,  where  they  are  erecting  three  ex- 
cellent mansions,  and  forming  pleasant  villas.  The 
Johnsons  are  a  wealthy  family  from  Ireland;  Mr. 
Sanderson  is  a  most  respectable  and  enterprising 
merchant,  of  talent  and  integrity,  carrying  on  busi- 
ness at  Liverpool;  and,  like  numbers  of  other  mer- 
chants of  that  town,  by  residing  at  Everton,  daily, 
and  more  especially  nightly,  he  solaces  himself  with 
quietude  and  pure  air.  It  is  here  that  the  very 
worthy  Mrs.  Wiatt  must  be  noticed ;  she  is  the  widow 
of  a  gentleman  who  led  the  way  in  the  improvements 
made  in  the  north  parts  of  Everton,  near  to  where  the 
church  now  stands.  This  cheerful  lady,  together 
with  her  sister  (also  a  widow),  resides  at  what  might 
be  termed,  with  no  very  great  exaggeration,  a  petty 


252  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

paradise,  seated  at  the  east  end  of  Roscommon-street, 
on  the  north  side :  it  is  a  place,  if  the  term  may  he 
used,  of  public  privacy;  its  front  is  ever  adorned 
with  the  richest  treasures  of  Flora,  by  handmaidens  or 
handmen  who  never  lose  sight  of  neatness  and  order. 

The  late  Thomas  Wiatt,  Esq.  was  an  eminent  soli- 
citor of  Liverpool,  who,  ahout  thirty  years  ago,  com- 
menced embellishing  the  northern  part  of  Everton,  by 
erecting  some  very  excellent  mansions,  and  transform- 
ing its  almost  barren  lands  into  pleasant  villas,  creat- 
ing for  each  a  fertile  garden  and  delightful  pleasure 
grounds ;  sheltering  them  with  shrubs  and  trees  from 
the  storms  to  which  this  part  of  Everton  is  particularly 
exposed.  Before  Mr.  Wiatt's  time,  individuals,  mer- 
chants, or  other  men  of  wealth,  settling  at  Everton, 
only  directed  their  attention  to  their  own  lots,  which 
they  improved,  and  frequently  greatly  embellished; 
(the  late  Joseph  Rose,  Esq.,  in  some  degree,  may 
be  excepted;)  but  Mr.  Wiatt  erected  mansion  after 
mansion,  which  he  successively  occupied  himself, 
or,  in  common  parlance,  gave  them  a  "house- 
warming,"  and  then,  like  the  settlers  of  the  western 
parts  of  the  United  States,  he  would  dispose  of  his 
"improvement,"  and  proceed  to  "  clear  and  improve" 
other  waste  and  half  wild  spots.  That  quarter  or 
part  of  Everton  where  Mr.  Wiatt  first  began  his 
operations  is  now  scarcely  second  to  any,  in  the  beauty 
of  its  appearance  and  in  its  value,  and  is  annually 
becoming  more  and  more  embellished: — Mr.  Wiatt 
died  on  the  7th  January,  1811. 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  253 

Every  one  who  beholds  the  beautiful  villa  of  John 
Carson,  Esq.  must  be  gratified  with  its  appearance; 
it  forms  a  pleasing,  picturesque  feature  in  Ever- 
ton's  delightful  scenery.  In  the  year  1 790,  this  place 
was  the  property  and  residence  of  the  late  Joseph 
Rose,  Esq.,  a  gentleman  who,  some  little  while  before 
his  decease,  had  formed,  for  an  individual,  what  might 
almost  be  termed  gigantic  plans,  and,  had  he  lived, 
there  is  little  doubt  that  long  ere  this  the  lands  he 
owned  in  Everton  would  have  been  closely  covered 
with  the  habitations  of  men,  having  laid  out  many 
streets,  and  contemplated  the  building  of  a  multitude 
of  dwellings.  To  the  streets  that  he  formed  he  in- 
variably gave  the  names  of  classic  authors,  such  as 
Homer,  Virgil,  Roscommon,  Dryden,  &c.,  and  to  one 
street  in  Liverpool  the  semi-ludicrous  cognomen  of 
Sawney  Pope  (Alexander  Pope).  It  is  not,  however, 
to  be  taken  for  granted  that  Mr  Rose  was  deeply 
versed  in  "literary  lore,"  it  was  more  as  a  mark  of 
admiration,  than  any  extent  of  knowledge  he  possessed 
of  those  authors,  which  caused  Mr.  Rose  to  compliment 
their  memory  in  the  way  he  selected. 

Mr.  Rose  built  the  mansion,  and  resided  himself  at 
the  villa,  where  Mi\  Carson  now  dwells;  the  latter 
gentleman  purchased  the  place  soon  after  Mr.  Rose's 
death  (which  took  place  on  the  27th  March,  1802), 
and  has  ever  since  resided  there.  Mr.  Rose  pos- 
sessed a  little  of  the  sjpice  of  eccentricity — but  this  is 
also  supererogatory,  for  men — aye,  and  women  too,  in 
general,  are  little  other  than  machines  of  eccentricity. 


254  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

The  present  owner  and  occupier  of  this  villa,  John 
Carson,  Esq.,  has  been  a  favourite  of  Fortune ;  the 
goddess  has  long  smiled  on  him,  both  as  a  master- 
mariner,  and  as  a  merchant ;  and  it  is  not  her  fault, 
if  he  is  not  now  enjoying  all  the  comfort  and  content 
which  prosperous  men  can  possibly  desire. 

The  next  locality,  on  the  north  to  that  of  Mr. 
Carson's,  is  marked  23,  a,  and  is  now  incorporated 
with  23,  6,  the  whole  forming  a  beautiful  villa,  the 
property  of  Richard  Dobson,  Esq.,  who  resides  at  the 
handsome  mansion  erected  on  the  east  part  by  Thomas 
Bateman,  Esq.,  of  Manchester,  who  owned,  and  re- 
sided at  this  place  for  a  few  years.  Mr.  Dobson  is  a 
cotton  broker,  of  the  first  class,  in  Liverpool,  and  is 
reputed  to  possess  skill  and  high  integrity  in  his  exten- 
sive transactions. 

To  Mr.  Dobson  must  be  awarded  an  ample  share 
of  praise,  for  the  attention  he  has  long  bestowed  on 
that  excellent  institution,  the  Blue  Coat  Hospital  of 
Liverpool,  the  interests  of  which  have  been  long 
with  Mr.  Dobson  of  the  highest  consideration.  And 
here,  without  confining  the  bearing  of  the  remark  to 
Mr.  Dobson  alone,  it  may  be  observed,  that  some 
cynics  deem  it  a  spirit  of  pride  that  works  within 
and  stimulates  many  persons  to  useful  public  exertions : 
be  it  so — it  is,  however,  a  species  of  pride  that  does 
good  to  man, — it  is  a  noble,  not  a  scornful  pride ;  it 
is,  indeed,  that  which  even  meek  charity  may  coun- 
tenance, and  heaven-born  pity  patronize. 

The  villas,  in  a  line  north  and  south  with  Mr. 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  255 

Dobson's,  are  all  delightful  places,  and  afford  pleasure 
to  those  who  view  them  from  the  west ;  where,  for  a 
long  extent,  they  grace  and  embellish  the  base  of 
Everton-brow. 

In  the  year  1 790,  the  localities  4,  b,  c,  d,  e,  and  ft 
adjoining  Mr.  Dobson's  on  the  north,  were  the  pro- 
perty of  the  late  Gill  Slater,  Esq.,  who  converted 
them  into  a  villa,  and  erected  in  the  east  part  the 
stately  mansion  which  now  adorns  the  place :  this 
villa  is  now,  and  for  a  considerable  time  past  has 
been,  the  property  of  William  Earle,  Esq.,  one  of  the 
oldest  standing  of  the  most  eminent  merchants  of 
Liverpool,  the  state  of  whose  health  has  induced  him, 
latterly,  to  prefer  residing  in  a  wanner  climate  than 
that  of  Everton.  On  high  occasions  Mr.  Earle  has 
come  forward,  and  given  active  and  influential  aid  in 
the  township's  public  concerns,  and  most  particularly 
at  a  time  when  government  had  well  nigh  taken  from 
Everton  its  character  of  rural  seclusion  and  respect- 
able quietude,  by  converting  the  St.  Domingo  man- 
sion and  estate  into  a  barrack  and  military  exercising 
grounds.  Separated  from  Mr.  Earle's  villa  by  locality 
3,  Ar,  is  locality  24,  a,  on  which  stands  a  most  excel- 
lent house,  erected,  some  fifty  or  more  years  ago,  by 
the  late  John  Tarlton,  Esq.,  a  gentleman  who  realised 
a  handsome  fortune  during  the  good  old  and  highly 
prosperous  times  of  the  tradesmen  of  Liverpool.  Mr. 
Tarlton  died  on  the  25th  July,  1815,  aged  84  years, 
when  this  villa  became  the  property  of  his  worthy 
daughter,  Miss  Tarlton,  who  still  resides  there,  highly 


256  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

respected  and  esteemed  by  a  large  circle  of  friends 
and  acquaintance.  The  polite  kindness  of  Miss 
Tarlton  has  permitted  this  work  to  be  embellished 
with  the  annexed  view  of  the  old  Beacon;  the 
original  is  in  that  lady's  possession,  and  was  taken  on 
the  spot  nearly  sixty  years  ago,  by  an  amateur 
painter,  a  friend  of  her  late  father. 

Adjoining  Miss  Tarlton's  villa,  on  the  north,  is 
locality  3,  i,  which  the  late  John  Mather,  Esq. 
formed  into  a  most  delightful  villa,  and  about  twenty 
years  ago,  he  erected  a  capital  mansion,  with  suitable 
out-offices,  at  its  east  part.  The  late  Mr.  Mather 
dwelt  for  some  time  at  this  villa,  which  is  now  the 
property,  and  in  the  occupation,  of  his  son,  John 
P.  Mather,  Esq.,  a  gentleman  extensively  engaged 
(as  was  his  father)  in  the  trade  of  that  valuable 
staple  of  commerce,  cotton;  a  trade  in  which,  formerly 
at  least,  all  who  prudently  operated,  enriched  them- 
selves. The  plan  of  Mr.  Mather's  mansion  is  most 
admirable,  for  the  space  of  ground  which  it  covers ; 
but  were  it  to  be  attempted  on  a  smaller  scale,  it 
would  prove  a  failure. 

On  the  north  of  Mr.  Mather's  villa  are  localities 
35,  a,  and  35,  5,  the  property,  in  the  year  1790,  of 
the  late  James  France,  Esq.  a  Liverpool  merchant, 
of  the  first  consideration  in  his  time.  Mr.  France 
erected  the  somewhat  magnificent  mansion  which 
stands  on  locality  35,  b,  but  soon  after  its  erection  the 
architects  proclaimed  the  place  "over  ornamented," 
a  hint  which  Mr.  France  took,  for  he  reduced  and 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  257 

removed  many  decorations  that  might  have  been 
deemed  embellishments  in  China,  but  nowhere  else  : 
of  these  scarcely  a  vestige  can  now  be  traced.  This 
splendid  and  valuable  villa  is  the  property  and  resi- 
dence of  John  Cropper,  Esq.,  a  merchant  of  Liverpool, 
and  wealthy — but  it  would  be  a  repetition  amounting 
to  tautology  successively  to  recite  the  fact  of  persons 
residing  at  Everton  being  wealthy. 

The  two  next  localities  on  the  north  of  Mr.  Crop- 
per's villa,  12,  6,  and  16,  a,  are  valuable  patches  of 
land.  A  wide,  handsome  street  might  be  advan- 
tageously formed  in  this  neighbourhood,  and  the 
project  would  offer  the  highest  advantages  to  the 
gentlemen  of  the  north  of  Everton,  were  they  them- 
selves to  take  it  in  hand;  otherwise,  it  is  most 
probable,  jobbers,  builders,  and  speculators  will  ere 
long  effect  the  operation,  on  a  scale,  and  in  a  manner, 
which  may  not  only  give  annoyance  to  this  now 
respectable  neighbourhood,  but  may  also  much  dete- 
riorate the  beauty  and  the  value  of  the  villas  that  are 
already  formed  in  this  quarter.  As  to  the  other 
advantages  which  the  formation  of  such  road  would 
afford  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  part  of  Everton,  they 
are  too  manifest  and  self-evident  to  need  enumeration 
here. 

Though  not  actually  offered  for  sale,  yet  both  or 
either  of  these  lots  might  be  readily  purchased ;  that 
marked  12,  5,  is  the  property  of  the  Tatlock  family; 
and  the  other  marked  16,  «,  is  the  property  of  Sea- 
come  Ellison,  Esq.,  a  gentleman  too  liberally  inclined, 


258  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

and  who  feels  too  deep  an  interest  in  the  township, 
to  stand  in  the  way  of  any  project  that  might  promise 
it  an  advantage.  On  the  north  of  Mr.  Ellison's  field 
is  locality  3,  h,  the  property  of  Charles  Horsfall,  Esq., 
who  in  the  year  1811  erected  the  elegant,  commodious 
mansion  which  stands  at  the  east  part,  and  formed 
the  whole  into  a  most  charming  villa,  where  he  has 
resided  ever  since. 

Mr.  Horsfall  has  long  enjoyed  that  quiet,  moderate, 
but  steady  degree  of  popularity  which  ever  proves  the 
most  solid  and  durable — healthy,  not  hysterical — 
constant,  not  convulsive. 

Notwithstanding  Mr.  Horsfall' s  multifarious  com- 
mercial engagements,  he  is  ever  to  be  found  actively 
and  usefully  employed  in  various  religious  and  chari- 
table affairs;  possessing  a  mind  of  great  capability, 
he  is  often  chosen  to  preside  in  committees,  and  as 
chairman  of  congregated  assemblies ;  nor  is  Ins  ability 
greater  than  is  at  all  times  his  readiness  to  render 
the  community  essential  service.  These  remarks 
are,  however,  more  applicable  to  the  history  of  Liver- 
pool than  to  that  of  Everton,  although  in  times  of 
need  Mr.  Horsfall  is  always  disposed  to  aid,  help,  and 
beneficially  advance  the  affairs  of  the  latter  township. 

Very  recently,  Mr.  Horsfall  has  been  elected  to  fill 
the  office  of  a  common-council-man  of  Liverpool,  a 
selection  that  meets  and  satisfies  the  wishes  of  the 
burgesses  at  large;  and  it  is  very  probable  that  he 
will  be  shortly  called  upon  to  perform  the  duties  of 
the  chief  magistrate  of  that  town. 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  259 

Locality  15,  r,  is  also  the  property  of  Mr.  Horsfall; 
adjoining  to  which,  on  the  north,  is  locality  12,  a,  out 
of  which  Mrs.  Potter  (the  sister  of  the  late  J.  Living- 
stone, Esq.)  has  formed  two  charming  villas,  and  at 
their  east  fronts  she  has  caused  two  handsome,  com- 
modious mansions  to  he  erected,  at  the  southernmost 
of  which  Mrs.  Potter  herself  resides,  together  with  her 
son,  William  Potter,  Esq.,  a  merchant  and  insurance 
broker  of  Liverpool,  a  gentleman  much  respected  and 
esteemed  for  his  sauvity  of  manners,  and  undeviating 
integrity. 

Reverting  again  to  the  formation  of  a  road  in  this 
quarter,  a  very  eligible  line  of  communication  might 
he  formed,  immediately  on  the  north  of  Mrs.  Potter's 
premises,  to  connect  Netherfield-road  north  with  the 
great  north  road — a  street  constructed  at  this  place 
would  form  a  clear  and  distinct  boundary  between 
the  lauds  of  Everton  and  Kirkdale.  As  to  all  the 
other  boundaries  or  junctions  of  those  townships  in 
this  quarter,  they  are  already  clearly  distinguished 
by  certain  roads  which  skirt  or  fringe  these  particular 
boundary  lines,  in  their  whole  length  northward  to 
the  quarry,  and  again  eastward  to  just  past  the  free 
school  in  Everton  valley. 

It  now  only  remains  to  treat  of  the  south-west  parts 
of  the  west  district  of  Everton,  there  being  nothing 
but  hedgerows  on  the  west  border  of  that  district,  from 
Mrs.  Potter's  land  to  the  west  end  of  Bostock-street, 
and  a  continuation  of  hedgerows  run  southwardly  from 
Bostock-street  to  within  a  few  vards  of  the  east  end 


260  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

of  Dryden-street,  where  clusters  on  clusters  of  domi- 
ciles are  built  and  building ;  indeed,  so  numerous  and 
dense  are  the  habitations  of  this  neighbourhood,  that 
it  would  be  in  vain  to  attempt  a  description  of  them, 
or  even  concisely  to  touch  on  the  biography  of  their 
inmates.  The  constant  and  rapid  changes  which  are 
occurring  here,  would  only  permit  description  to  pos- 
sess an  ephemeral  character  of  truth  and  consistency; 
for  changes  are  constantly  taking  place,  and  house 
after  house  is  incessantly  rearing  up  its  burnt-clay 
front,  and  the  lands  are  annually  intersected  with  new 
streets,  which  are  not  long  laid  out  ere  they  are  flanked 
with  snug  and  handsome,  though  not  large  domiciles, 
of  which  there  are  few  that  are  not  inhabited  ere  the 
plaster  becomes  dry :  the  place  is  already  teeming 
with  population,  and  coquetting,  as  it  were,  with  its 
opulent  neighbour;  nay,  the  union  is  already  formed — 
the  indissoluble  knot  is  tied  that  makes  Everton  Liver- 
pool's bride.  In  the  Appendix  will  be  found  the 
names  of  all  the  residents  of  this,  and  indeed  of  every 
district  of  Everton,  their  avocations,  the  size  and 
tenures  of  their  dwellings,  &c.  &c.  But  there  is  one 
individual  who  resides  in  this  quarter,  of  whom  some 
mention  must  be  made  here,  for  he  is  the  proprietor 
of  extensive  parcels  of  land  in  the  neighbourhood, 
some  of  which  lie  at  the  east  end  of  Great  Nelson- 
street,  but  the  major  parts  are  situated  a  little  on  the 
west  of  Everton,  in  Liverpool,  and  more  particularly 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  church  of  St.  Martin. 

Richard  Houghton,  Esq.  is  a  common-council-man 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  261 

of  Liverpool,  and  eldest  son  and  heir  to  the  late 
Edward  Houghton,  Esq.,  who  erected  the  good  and 
capacious  mansion  at  the  north-east  corner  of  Great 
Nelson-street,  and  formed  the  villa  that  occupies  the 
entire  quarter  of  that  street ;  this  villa  has  lost  its 
rural  character,  for  minor  dwellings  now  surround  it ; 
indeed  it  may  be  questioned  if  its  original  formation 
was  a  judicious  undertaking,  but  it  may,  at  any  time, 
be  easily  converted  into  a  commodious  hotel. 

The  late  Edward  Houghton,  Esq.  died  at  this  villa, 
on  the  24th  February,  1820,  aged  48  years;  since 
his  demise,  very  much  of  the  land  which  he  left  has 
been  covered  with  buildings,  and  so  highly  has  it  been 
improved  by  the  son  in  other  ways,  as  to  yield  a 
manifold  greater  income  than  it  was  wont  to  do  in  the 
parent's  day ;  and  as  matters  have  latterly  progressed, 
the  present  Mr.  Houghton  bids  fair  to  become  ex- 
tremely opulent. 

NORTH-WEST   DISTRICT. 

The  north-west  district  of  Everton  is  bounded  on 
the  west  by  Netherfield-road  north  and  the  lands  of 
Kirkdale;  on  the  south  by  Priory -lane  and  Hill- 
side ;  on  the  east  also  by  part  of  Hill-side,  St.  Do- 
mingo-lane, and  Church-street ;  and  on  the  north  by 
Everton  valley.  This  district,  which  was  waste  land 
much  less  than  100  years  ago,  is  now,  and  for  some 
time  past  has  been,  undergoing  great  changes  in  its 
external  appearance,  and  bids  fair  soon  to  be,  both  in 


262  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

value  and  beauty,  equal,  or  but  little  inferior,  to  any 
other  district  in  the  township. 

The  two  northernmost  localities  in  this  quarter,  33, 
a,  and  37, «,  were  green  fields  in  the  year  1790;  but 
now  much  of  the  surface  of  their  soil,  particularly 
that  of  the  latter  locality,  is  nearly  covered  with 
buildings,  or  converted  into  gardens,  pleasure-grounds, 
cattle-pens,  water  works,  &c. 

Tin's  part  of  Everton  rises  gradually  from  the  village 
of  Kirkdale,  sheltering  it  from  the  ill  effects  of  bleak 
east  winds,  and  fostering  the  fertile,  prolific  properties  of 
the  rich  soil  of  that  township ;  Avhich,  indeed,  it  would 
almost  seem  has  drained  from  Everton  some  of  those 
fat  and  fertile  qualities,  which  it  probably  may  have 
possessed  in  by-gone  ages.  On  locality  33,  a,  at  the 
extreme  north-west  angle  or  comer  of  this  district, 
some  cattle-pens  are  constructed,  which  form  part  of  a 
celebrated  fair  or  market  that  has  been  long  held 
here  :  at  first  once  a  fortnight,  afterwards  weekly,  and 
latterly  twice  a  week,  under  the  name  of  the  "  Kirk- 
dale  Cattle-fair."  To  tin's  place  graziers,  cattle- 
dealers,  and  butchers  constantly  resort,  from  all  parts 
of  this  and  the  neighbouring  counties :  it  is  a  mart 
where  business  in  beasts  is  done  to  an  amazing  extent ; 
in  proof  of  which  the  following  statement  is  given  of 
the  importation  of  cattle  into  Liverpool  during  the 
year  1828,  nearly  the  whole  of  which  was  disposed  of 
at  Kirkdale  cattle-mart,  together  with  many  that  may 
have  been  brought  to  that  market  from  inland  parts 
during  the  same  year. 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  263 

Imported  into  Liverpool  during  the  year  1828  : 
59375  Head  of  black  cattle,  which  may  be 

taken  at  the  supposed  value  of  £16  each  £950,000 

128788       „      of  Sheep 35s.  225,379 

115743       „      ofPigs    40s.  231,486 

640      „      of  Horses    £25.  16,000 

338       „      of  Mules..... £8.  2,704 

721       „      ofCalves £3.  2,163 

1300      „      of  Lambs    18s.  1,224 


£1,428,956 

The  following  table  shews  the  consumption  of  but- 
chers' meat  in  Liverpool  in  the  year  1822 : 

Butchered  in  Liverpool,  1822 — Neat  Cattle    13,963 

Calves    18,069 

Sheep  and  Lambs  86,730 

At  present  there  are  only  two  butchers  in  Everton, 
on  any  scale  worthy  of  note,  the  one  on  Everton- 
brow,  near  the  bridewell,  and  the  other  at  the  east  end 
of  Virgil-street. 

The  Kirkdale  cattle  fairs,  or  markets,  are  held 
regularly  twice  a  week,  on  Mondays  and  Wednesdays ; 
but  Mondays  are  the  principal  days,  on  which  much 
business  is  done :  formerly  the  fair  was  held  only  on 
every  other  Monday,  and  was  then  called  the  "  Kirk- 
dale  Fortnight  Fair." 

On  any  of  its  Monday  market  days,  this  place  would 
afford  to  the  investigator  of  human  nature  a  high 
treat;  but  from  the  nature  of  its  transactions,  none 
other  than  the  male  sex  resort  to  this  scene,  where, 
perhaps,  subtilty  and  overreaching,  together  with  much 
honest  traffic  and  barter,  are  carried  to  their  highest 


264  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

permitted  points.  Many  sallow  and  squalid,  scantily 
fed  and  slenderly  clad  persons  may  be  seen  on  these 
days  crowded  together ;  and  not  a  few  that  are  red, 
rosy,  and  robust,  and  attired  in  garments  which  the 
most  opulent  in  the  land  would  not  be  ashamed  to 
wear :  there  are  as  many  grades  of  beauty  and  de- 
formity in  the  men  who  resort  to  this  fair,  as  there  are 
in  the  cattle  exhibited  there.  This  is  said  of  the 
outward  man,  but  who  can  read,  or  who  can  depict 
the  inward  man — his  thoughts,  his  hopes,  and  his 
aims  ?  See  how  earnestly  the  seller  recommends  his 
cattle,  and  how  carelessly  the  buyer  seems  to  examine 
them;  the  owner  labours  to  diminish  their  defects, 
whilst  the  would-be-purchaser  roundly  denounces 
them,  talks  of  blemishes  and  faults  which  none  but 
himself  can  discover,  and  even  decries,  or  affects  to 
despise,  their  beauty,  adv.antages,  and  real  value; 
with  what  a  careless  air  he  carries  himself,  while  in 
his  heart  he  longs  to  bring  an  affair  of  some  hundreds, 
or  even  thousands,  in  amount,  to  a  termination.  The 
chapman  bids  low,  and  watches  the  seller's  reception 
of  his  offer ;  in  a  moment  his  tact  discovers  if  he  must 
raise  his  bidding,  or,  by  firmly  adhering  to  his  original 
offer,  have  only  to  wait  such  a  reasonable  time  as  the 
seller  may  deem  necessary  to  support  the  character  of 
a  fair  dealer.  Look  at  the  side  glances  the  bidder  casts 
at  the  dealer,  who  stands  ruminating  on  the  propriety, 
and  probable  advantage,  of  accepting  or  refusing  the 
offer ;  when  their  occasional  glances  meet,  how  instan- 
taneously they  avert  their  eyes,  each  fancying  that 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  265 

the  detection  of  their  lingering  look  has  cast  away- 
some  pounds  which,  they  hoped,  by  a  magical  sort  of 
anticipation,  had  been  as  good  as  clear  gain. 

But  when  at  length  the  bargain  is  concluded,  observe 
the  self-complacency  of  the  buyer,  as  he  drives  away 
what  he  conceives  to  be  a  profitable  operation  of  trade; 
and  then  note  the  seller,  how  he  ruminates,  weighing 
the  gold,  in  his  hand,  with  the  endeavour  to  carry 
conviction  to  his  half-dubious  mind,  that  value  for 
value  has  been  received.  See  many  a  "knowing  seller, 
who  closely  buttons  up  his  pouch,  and  then  turning  to 
a  comrade,  or  perhaps  a  co-partner,  with  a  leer  or 
significant  sign,  pronounces  a  not-to-be-mistaken  com- 
mentary on  his  own  ability,  and  his  dupe's  rarvism. 
In  fine,  at  Kirkdale  fair,  such  things  as  these,  together 
with  a  multitude  of  other  lessons  equally  interesting, 
will  instruct  and  reward  the  observer  for  any  attention 
and  time  he  may  spend  on  the  occasion.* 

Nearly  adjoining  the  cattle-pens,  on  the  south,  and 
situated  in  Everton,  is  a  stone  quarry,  the  property 
(as  indeed  is  the  greater  part  of  this  locality,  33,  a,) 
of  John  Shaw  Leigh,  Esq.,  who  lets  it  to  be  wrought 
on  lease,  or  agreement.  The  stone  procured  from 
this  quarry  is  generally  found  to  be  of  a  somewhat 
lighter  cast  than  that  which  is  usually  met  with  at 
Everton ;  in  some  parts,  indeed,  it  inclines  to  a  grey 
colour,  but  as  the  workmen  advance  to  the  east,  its 


*  There  has  been  a  disposition  of  late  to  fix  a  cattle  fair  on  the  south- 
east of  Liverpool,  near  the  Old  Swan ;  but  some  difficulties  have  arisen, 
and  the  plan,  it  is  said,  is  for  the  present  abandoned. 


266  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

colour  and  character  become  similar  to  that  of  the 
interior  parts  of  Everton,  and  such  as  is  found  about 
the  site  of  the  old  beacon,  of  which  the  church  of  St. 
George  is  built.  It  is  remarked  of  the  stone  procured 
at  this  north  quarry  of  Everton  that,  after  exposure, 
it  suffers  the  elements  very  early  to  cover  and  encrust 
its  exterior  surface  with  a  thin  mossy  coat;  it  also 
abounds  with  small  flinty  pebbles,  which  are  very 
frequently  studded  and  embedded  in  the  solid  or  free- 
stone parts. 

Singular  as  it  may  seem,  it  is  nevertheless  a  fact, 
that  the  township  of  Kirkdale  has  established  its 
bridewell  in  this  quarry,  and  actually  within  the  town- 
ship of  Everton.  Why  the  Kirkdaleites  have  thrust 
this  necessary  evil  into  Everton' s  bosom,  or  why  the 
Evertouians  permit  it  to  remain  in  their  territory,  is 
scarcely  worthy  of  further  inquiry  or  notice,  excepting 
that,  according  to  general  custom  and  usage,  Messrs. 
of  the  Kirkdale  municipalty,  ought  to  direct  all 
rogues  and  vagabonds,  caught  at  large  within  the 
limits  of  their  jurisdiction,  to  be  incarcerated  in  some 
stronghold  within  the  bounds  of  their  own  township. 

It  was  hereabout  where  a  pinfold  was  constructed, 
when  the  one  was  removed  or  destroyed  which  stood 
formerly  in  what  is  now  caDed  Rupert-lane.  The 
walls  of  the  pinfold,  which  had  been  constructed  in 
Netherfield-road  north,  have  been  removed,  and  the 
site  now  forms  part  of  that  road;  after  the  removal 
of  the  pinfold,  however,  the  road  remained  broader 
than  was  requisite,  and,  in  consequence,  portions  or 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  267 

slips  of  the  broad  space  on  the  west  were  sold  to  Mr. 
Bailiff  and  to  Mr.  Farrer.  On  the  site  of  a  house 
now  occupied  hy  Mr.  Dale,  a  publican,  on  the  Kirk- 
dale  side  of  the  Everton  valley,  there  stood  anciently 
a  noted  public-house,  called  the  Liver. 

There  are  a  few  dwellings  on  the  east  part  of  loca- 
lity 33,  a,  one  of  which  is  the  property  of Whittle, 

Esq.,  a  very  respectable  solicitor  of  Liverpool;  another 
of  these  little  villas,  is  the  property  and  residence  of 
Mr.  John  Me  George — of  whom  more  will  be  stated 
hereafter.  An  opening  has  been  recently  formed 
here,  called  John-street;  its  outlet  or  east  end  runs 
into  St.  Domingo-lane,  at  the  north-west  corner  of 
which  (with  their  fronts  to  Everton  valley)  are  a  few 
small  houses ;  and  opposite  to  those  houses,  standing 
on  what  is  termed  "  Waste  land  of  Kirkdale,"  is  the 
Everton  and  Kirkdale  school ;  on  the  front  of  which 
is  the  following  inscription  : 

"  Everton  and  Kirkdale  School. 

Erected  MDCCCXVI. 
Enlarged  MDCCCXXII." 

This  school  was  erected  and  established  by  donations, 
and  is  supported  by  annual  subscriptions. 

In  the  year  1790  the  locality  33,  a,  was  the  pro- 
perty of  the  late  John  Leigh,  Esq.,  a  gentleman  of 
sound  and  acute  judgment,  who  long  stood  high  on 
the  list  of  Liverpool's  most  respectable  solicitors,  and  to 
whose  heirs  the  chief  part  of  this  lot  still  belongs. 
The  late  Mr.  Leigh  purchased  all  the  higher  eccle- 
siastical profits  and  advantages  accruing  from  the 


268  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

parish  of  Walton ;  and  made  extensive  purchases  of 
land  in  and  near  the  north  parts  of  Liverpool,  not 
remote  from  the  west  horders  of  Everton.  These 
bold  and  extensive  speculations  are  now  amply  re- 
warding his  family. 

In  the  locality  37,  a,  a  broad,  spacious  street  has 
been  constructed,  named  Devonshire-place;  many 
houses  are  built  on  both  sides  of  it,  but  are  wanting 
in  uniformity;  some  are  scarcely  above  the  degree  of 
a  cottage,  many  are  good  moderate-sized  dwellings, 
and  a  few  may  be  classed  as  commodious  mansions; 
most  of  the  residences  here  are  calculated  for  the  re- 
ception of  respectable  and  genteel  families,  each  house 
having  its  pretty  garden  attached,  and  some  are  em- 
bellished with  well-kept  pleasure  grounds ;  but,  as  in 
other  parts  of  Everton,  the  population  is  too  dense 
to  allow  of  biographical  notices  being  even  briefly 
taken. 

The  Bootie  water-company  a  few  years  ago  con- 
structed a  capacious  water-tank,  or  reservoir,  on  the 
north  side  of  Devonshire-place,  a  measure  that  has 
much  advantaged  the  inhabitants  of  the  township,  for 
until  latterly,  notwithstanding  Everton's  many  beau- 
ties, and  other  more  solid  advantages,  the  whole  town- 
ship laboured  under  the  inconvenience  of  not  possessing 
within  itself  a  supply  of  that  particular  and  necessary 
description  of  water,  styled  in  vulgar  parlance  "  soft:" 
nor  is  the  Bootie  water  quite  equal  in  that  respect  to 
rain  water,  but  it  is  pellucid  and  salubrious,  mode- 
rately soft,  and  certainly  partakes  more  highly  of  the 


;      GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  269 

latter  quality  than  any  spring  water  that  can  he  ob- 
tained in  Everton. 

Proceeding  along  Netherfield-road  north,  to  the 
south  of  the  quarry,  after  crossing  Devonshire-place, 
the  handsome  residence  of  Mr.  William  Tatlock  is  the 
first  arrived  at,  seated  at  the  south-west  corner  of  loca- 
lity 37,  a.  This  little  villa  is  charmingly  situated,  and 
in  the  year  1812,  Mr.  Tatlock,  who  was  a  master- 
cooper  of  Liverpool,  huilt  a  good  house  on  its  west 
front,  and  then  retired  from  the  cares  of  business  to 
this  delightful  abode,  to  enjoy  in  moderation  the  bless- 
ings of  competence.  He  also  patriotically  caused  a 
bench,  or  resting  place,  to  be  erected  or  formed  in  the 
bank  or  cop  which  borders  the  east  side  of  Nether- 
field-road,  about  a  hundred  paces  on  the  south  of  his 
own  dwelling.  On  this  bench  many  loungers,  and 
often  many  lovers,  delightedly  sit,  and  linger  to  view 
the  moving  marine  panorama  that  lies  before  them 
in  the  west.  At  the  front  part  of  this  bench  is  in- 
scribed "  Head  Quarters,"  the  meaning  of  which  must 
be  left  to  Mr.  Tatlock's  interpretation. 

It  may  not  be  amiss  to  tarry  a  moment  here,  and 
give  a  faint  delineation  of  the  beautiful  and  interesting 
prospects  that  meet  the  observer's  eye,  when  its  glances 
are  directed  from  this  quarter;  from  hence  is  had 
a  commanding  view  of  a  wide  expanse  of  the  Irish 
sea ;  of  the  estuary  of  the  Mersey  j  and  of  that  river's 
course  for  two  or  three  miles  upward,  from  its  junction 
with  the  waters  of  Bootle's  spacious  bay ;  for,  as  yet, 
no  clusters  of  dwellings  are  erected  on  the  lands  imme- 


270  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

diately  on  the  west  of  this  northern  part  of  the  crest  of 
Everton-hill :  from  this  northern  part,  covered  nearly 
the  entire  year  with  rich  verdure,  the  fertile  lands  of 
Kirkclale  gradually  slope,  until  they  join  the  level  land 
that  extends  to  the  east  hank  of  the  Mersey,  affording 
to  the  observer,  in  the  same  glance,  a  pastoral  scene, 
and  a  grand  and  highly  interesting  marine  picture, 
alive  with  the  operations  of  both  nature  and  art ;  for 
the  tides  of  the  Mersey  are  ever  on  the  ebb  or  flow, 
and  Liverpool's  gigantic  commerce  seldom  spares,  for 
one  moment,  the  services  of  those  mighty  and  bene- 
ficial fluxes  of  the  great  waters.  On  the  right,  the 
comfortable  crow-nest  village  of  Kirkclale  pleases  the 
eye,  which,  on  turning  its  glance  a  little  more  north- 
wardly, is  struck  with  the  magnificent  appearance  of 
crimes'  citadel — the  House  of  Correction ;  but  leaving 
that  "necessary  evil,"  and  looking  near  to  the  ob- 
server's station  in  the  west,  there  will  be  constantly 
seen  innumerable  vehicles  and  passengers  traversing 
the  great  north  road  to  and  from  Liverpool.  If  the 
observer  would  extend  his  view,  let  him  raise  his  eye- 
lid and  take  in  the  Cheshire  lands,  where  villa  after 
villa  is  now  formed  and  forming,  in  rapid  succession ; 
and  further  in  the  distance,  bounding  the  prospect, 
are  the  projecting  head-lands  and  stupendous  moun- 
tains of  Wales.  Nor  are  the  newly-erected  fort  and 
lighthouse  the  least  interesting  objects  to  be  seen  from 
Everton's  northern  parts;  in  these  objects  there  is 
something  pleasingly  striking — the  sombre,  solid,  dark 
and  strong  appearance  of  the  battery,  contrasts  well 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  271 

with  the  light,  white,  airy  arid  sail-like  figure  of  the 
lighthouse.  There  is  also  something  truly  consolatory 
in  reflecting  on  the  purposes  for  which  those  structures 
were  placed  so  conspicuously  before  us — the  one  to 
serve  and  save  our  friends,  and  the  other  to  protect  us 
from  our  enemies.  It  were  vain,  however,  to  carry 
description  further;  indeed,  any  delineation  which 
can  be  given  will  prove  but  faint,  and  fall  very  far 
short  of  the  reality ;  for  a  just  knowledge,  and  a  pro- 
per appreciation,  of  the  delightful  prospects  to  be  had 
from  this  quarter  of  Everton,  can  only  be  obtained 
from  actual  personal  observation. 

The  locality  41,  a,  was,  in  the  year  1790,  the  pro- 
perty of  a  family  named  Fletcher,  and  remained  in  its 
possession  until  about  two  years  ago,  when  it  was 
purchased  by  James  Atherton,  Esq.,  who  resides  at 
an  extensive  and  beautiful  villa,  a  few  hundred  yards 
distant,  in  the  south,  from  this  locality,  near,  and 
exactly  opposite,  on  the  west,  to  the  church  of  St. 
George.  Mr.  Atherton  is  proprietor  of  a  great  part 
of  the  lands  of  the  N.  W.  district,  which  quarter  is 
highly  indebted  to  him  for  the  erection  and  formation 
of  several  handsome  mansions,  and  delightful  villas, 
and  for  highly  embellishing  and  improving  this  part 
of  the  township  in  many  other  respects :  he  gave 
the  greater  part  of  the  laud  that  forms  the  site  of  the 
church  of  St.  George,  and  its  cemetery;  a  gift  that 
materially  benefits  and  accommodates  the  community, 
for  previous  to  the  erection  of  this  church  at  Everton, 
there  was  no  place  of  public  worship  nearer  than 


272  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON^ 

Walton  parish  church,  on  the  north,  and  the  church 
of  St.  Anne,  in  Liverpool,  on  the  west.  The  gift  was 
a  worthy  one,  and,  doubtless,  meets  its  reward  in  Mr. 
Atherton's  conscious  reflections  of  having  promoted 
so  laudable  a  measure,  and  eventually  will  meet  with 
temporal  reward,  in  enhancing  the  value  of  lands  in 
the  church's  vicinity.  But  this  brief  notice  of  Mr. 
Atherton  must  not  suffice — his  is  not  an  every  day 
character — he  is  a  man  of  ten  thousand ;  and  it  may 
be  truly  said  of  him  that  he  was  "  born  to  be  busy." 
Moulded  in  a  symmetrical  frame,  possessing  a  pre- 
possessing person,  of  good  or  rather  commanding 
address,  of  an  apparently  hale  constitution,  and  gifted 
with  a  strong,  intelligent  mind,  it  may  be  assumed, 
nay,  it  must  be  granted,  that  Mr.  Atherton's  capa- 
bilities are  of  no  common  cast :  he  courts  enterprise, 
and  rises  superior  to  those  vexations  and  crosses, 
which  would  dishearten  and  absolutely  overwhelm  the 
minds  not  onlv  of  the  chicken-hearted,  but  even  of 

V 

those  that  are  accounted  to  possess  a  tolerable  share 
of  fortitude.  Mr.  Atherton  has  the  science  of  finance 
at  his  fingers'  end;  he  can  use  a  hundred  pounds 
more  economically,  and  make  it  turn  the  wheel  of 
business  with  more  alacrity,  than  your  ordinary,  cau- 
tious, hesitating  men  of  trade  can  effect  with  a  thousand 
pounds.  Whilst  engaged  in  the  commerce  of  Liver- 
pool, or,  as  at  one  time  it  might  be  said,  of  the  world, 
he  did  not  fetter  himself  with  the  fears  and  doubts  of 
the  timid,  and  was  often  successful.  In  the  storms 
that  did  occasionally  occur  on  the  ocean  of  trade  in 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  273 

his  days,  he  invariably  managed  to  pilot  his  bark 
along  the  shores  of  commerce  with  a  masterly  hand ; 
sometimes  in  ballast-trim  only,  and  sometimes  richly 
laden,  but  always  in  safety.  At  length,  however,  he 
discontinued  the  mercantile  life,  and  has  confined 
himself  for  some  time  past  to  landed  and  architectural 
speculations,  both  in  Liverpool  and  Everton,  thereby 
giving  employment  to  a  mind  which  cannot  submit  to 
a  state  of  inactivity.  The  united  and  congregated 
exertions  of  a  score  of  such  men,  could  at  any  time 
convert  an  insignificant  village  into  a  town  of  conse- 
quence and  renown ;  in  fine,  Mr.  Atherton  is  not  only 
a  man  of  ten  thousand,  but  of  a  million.  A  newly- 
laid-out  street  now  intersects  this  locality,  (41,  a,) 
from  east  to  west,  and  a  handsome  pile  of  buildings 
is  in  course  of  erection  at  its  west  end,  to  be  called 
Albion  Crescent. 

On  the  south  of  a  field  belonging  to  the  heirs  of  the 
late  Rev.  J.  Tatlock,  (12,  ej)  dwells  Mr.  James  Holmes, 
another  of  the  lords  of  Everton' s  soil,  who,  in  and 
about  the  year  1813,  erected  the  excellent  houses  at 
which  S.  B.  Wild,  William  Jackson,  and  Samuel  C. 
Stiles,  Esqrs.  reside,  and  also  the  one  at  which  Mr. 
Holmes  himself  dwells.  These  are  all  charming 
places  of  residence,  standing  on  the  west  part  of  loca- 
lity 2,  Jc,  the  whole  of  which  was,  in  the  year  1790, 
the  property  of  the  late  John  Sparling,  Esq.,  and  the 
west  part  of  it  has  passed  through  the  possession  of 
James  Atherton,  Esq.  to  Mr.  Holmes.  Mr.  Atherton, 
in  the  year  1828,  erected  several  very  good  houses 

T 


274  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

on  the  south  side  of  this  locality,  and  on  the  east  of 
Mr.  Holmes'  villas. 

Mr.  Holmes  is,  in  his  way,  a  James  the  second, 
for  indeed,  in  enterprise  and  activity,  he  is  second  to 
none  in  the  township,  save  only  his  neighbour  of  the 
same  Christian  name,  of  whom,  in  these  pages,  biogra- 
phical notice  has  been  very  recently  taken ;  but  lat- 
terly another  James  of  Everton  (James  Plumpton, 
Esq.,)  seems  to  be  making  great  exertions  to  place 
himself  architecturally  on  a  par,  or  in  rivalry,  with  his 
namesakes.  Mr.  Holmes  has  pushed  industry  to  its 
utmost  stretch ;  he  possesses  a  hale  constitution,  great 
physical  strength,  and  a  clear,  strong,  comprehensive 
knowledge  of  the  business  he  is  engaged  in ;  his  argu- 
ments and  his  actions  are  substantial,  proceeding  at 
once  to  the  object  in  view ;  and  in  matters  of  his  own 
craft,  he  is  the  very  reverse  of  those  who  dress  poor 
ideas  and  meagre  measures  in  flimsy  rhetoric  and  the 
mockery  of  logic :  he  came  to  Everton  when  a  boy, 
about  fifty  years  ago,  and  his  attachment  to  the  place 
has  grown  with  his  growth ;  in  public  matters  he 
meddles  very  triflingly. 

At  some  little  distance  on  the  south  of  Mr.  Holmes' 
property  resides  Mr.  Robert  Ledson,  another  deserv- 
ing son  of  industrious  enterprise,  who  seems  indefati- 
gable in  two  pursuits, — the  one  to  give  satisfaction  to 
all  for  whom  his  assistants  operate,  and  the  other  by 
active  and  honourable  means  to  secure  a  competence 
for  himself  and  family ;  pursuits  which  seldom  fail  of 
success,  if  ardently  and  prudently  followed.  Of  the 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  275 

two  clusters  of  buildings  of  which  Mr.  Ledson's  house 
forms  the  north  wing,  it  may  be  sufficient  to  say,  that 
they  were  chiefly,  if  not  all,  erected  by  builders,  on 
speculation,  within  the  last  twenty  years.  These  de- 
lightful places  of  residence  are  eight  in  number.  John 
Boardman,  Esq.  resides  at  some  few  paces  on  the 
south  of  Mr.  Ledson's  villa,  and  is  a  merchant,  exten- 
sively engaged  in  the  wine  and  spirit  trade,  not  only 
in  Liverpool,  but  in  the  country  far  and  wide.  Were 
it  not  that  Mr.  Boardman  extends  his  operations 
through  the  winter,  as  well  as  incessantly  during  the 
summer,  he  might  be  most  appropriately  likened  to 
the  busy  bee,  ever  on  the  wing,  in  search  of  the  en- 
ticing honey  of  commerce — profit ;  his  attention  and 
perseverance  deserve  that  his  hive  should  be  abun- 
dantly stored. 

On  the  south-west  corner  of  locality  8,  a,  is  the 
villa  of  Colin  Campbell,  Esq.,  on  which  he  has  erected 
a  spacious  and  commodious  dwelling ;  its  original  part 
(for  it  was  constructed  at  two  periods)  was  the  first 
erected  of  the  cluster  of  houses  which  now  embellish 
this  part  of  Everton.  There  is  a  quiet,  pious,  and 
moral  bearing  in  the  character  of  Mr.  Campbell's 
family,  highly  deserving  of  notice  and  praise ;  he  is 
punctual  and  indefatigable  in  his  commercial  pursuits, 
a  shunner  of  frivolity,  a  worthy  member  of  both 
domestic  and  social  life,  and  possesses  a  strong  and 
fertile  mind,  in  the  proper  cultivation  of  which,  he 
takes  much  delight.  The  next  villa  on  the  south  of 
Mr.  Campbell's  is  that  belonging  to  James  Ackers, 


276  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

Esq.,  a  gentlemen  whose  biography  will  be  found  in 
the  annals  of  Liverpool,  at  which  place  he  has  veiy 
frequently  taken  his  station  in  the  first  and  highest 
ranks  of  those  engaged  in  political  and  parochial 
affairs. 

Some  few  yards  south  of  Mr.  Ackers'  delightful 
villa,  is  a  street,  or  rather  a  short  opening,  called 
Gloucester-place,  in  which,  on  a  charming  though 
somewhat  retired  spot,  is  formed  the  villa  of  Edward 
Lister,  Esq.,  who  has  been  long  a  denizen  of  Everton, 
pursuing  a  steady,  respectable,  prudent  traffic  in  that 
article  which  has  elevated  Lancashire  to  its  commer- 
cial character — cotton.  Mr.  Lister  is  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  a  handsome  competence,  and  possesses  a 
domestic  treasure,  of  which  he  may  be  justly  proud ; 
doubtless,  therefore,  he  finds  in  his  elegant  villa  a 
delightful  home. 

On  the  north  side  of  Gloucester-place,  opposite  Mr. 
Lister's,  is  the  villa  of  Thomas  Ball,  Esq.,  who  is  also 
the  proprietor  of  that  adjoining  his  own  residence,  on 
the  south.  -Mr.  Ball  has  long,  and  to  all  appearance 
prosperously,  carried  on  the  spirit  business  in  Liver- 
pool. To  the  discredit  of  the  present  epoch — or  it  may 
be  to  the  impossibility  of  preventing  such  evil  occur- 
rences— it  must  be  recorded,  that  a  few  weeks  ago, 
at  an  early  hour  of  the  night,  Mr.  Ball  was  knocked 
down,  maltreated,  and  robbed,  in  a  comparatively 
public  part  of  Everton. 

Adjoining  the  premises  of  Mr.  Ball,  on  the  south, 
resides  Lieut.  R.  B.  Boardman,  R.  N.,  at  a  very  pretty, 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  277 

moderate  sized  villa,  the  property  of  the  family. 
Although  Mr.  Boardman  has  married  a  very  charm- 
ing Everton  lady,  and,  as  it  were,  firmly  planted 
himself  in  Everton's  garden,  yet  he  must  take  deeper 
root  in  the  township,  ere  he  can  put  forth  biographical 
blossoms  for  the  annals  of  Everton. 

Some  twenty  paces  on  the  south  of  Mr.  Boardman's 
residence,  stands  an  extensive  and  excellent  mansion, 
erected  in  the  year  1818,  by  the  late  Samuel  Beeten- 
son,  M.  D.,  of  whom,  it  may  be  said,  there  were  many 
ingredients  in  his  character  which  tended  to  raise  him 
to  celebrity;  but  in  his  public  career  he  always  de- 
monstrated that  fondness  for  minutiae  which  checks,  if 
it  does  not  counteract,  otherwise  able  and  useful 
efforts.  As  a  medical  practitioner,  he  was  unques- 
tionably skilful,  and  possessed  an  excellent  judgment : 
occasionally,  and  on  emergencies,  he  practised  profes- 
sionally; but  after  he  took  up  his  residence  at  Everton, 
he  made  no  public  avowal  of  being  engaged  in  the 
healing  art.  The  late  Doctor  Beetenson  affords  a 
demonstrative  instance  that  Fate  or  Fortune  does  not 
always  cast  us  into  the  trade,  profession,  or  occupation 
best  suited  to  our  genius  and  ability;  for  had  the 
Doctor,  in  early  life,  been  trained  to  trade,  it  is  pre- 
sumed, that  he  would  have  risen  to  the  highest  pitch 
of  eminence  as  a  merchant;  he  possessed  the  true 
tact  of  trade,  and  well  understood  the  codes  of  com- 
merce, with  all  their  nice  and  needful  calculations; 
but  he  visited  Liverpool  at  too  late  a  period  in  life  to 
put  his  commercial  capabilities  into  operation  on  a 


278  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

scale  of  magnitude ;   the  doctor  died   on  the  28th 
May,  1823. 

On  the  south  of  the  villa  last  noticed,  which  is  the 
residence  of  William  Shand,  Esq.,  are  three  houses, 
erected  in  the  year  1808,  by  the  late  Dr.  Beetenson, 
and  named  by  him  Belle  Vue ;  at  the  northernmost 
of  those  dwellings  this  treatise  was  compiled. 

It  may  be  urged  that  the  pages  of  this  work  are 
strewed  with  laudatory  flowers,  plucked  and  selected 
from  the  best  and  brightest  branches  of  the  characters 
of  individuals — what  then  ?  no  adulative  or  unworthy 
motives  guide  the  pen;  the  object  in  view  is  pure; 
the  matter  intrinsically  just ;  and  the  aim  is  to  shew 
that  perseverance  in  laudable  and  industrious  pursuits, 
and  steadiness  in  the  paths  of  piety  and  morality,  are 
almost  certain  of  obtaining  worldly  respect,  and  will 
brighten  the  prospect  of  a  happy  hereafter.  It  is 
hoped,  then,  that  it  may  be  permitted,  for  the  sake  of 
piety  and  morality,  to  clothe  these  biographical  re- 
marks in  their  best  and  brightest  garments,  and,  in 
imitation  of  able  painters,  skilfully  to  veil  their  ble- 
mishes and  defects.  But  why  name  these  ?  there  is 
not,  perhaps,  a  community,  of  equal  extent  in  number, 
which  can  boast  of  greater  general,  or  of  greater  indi- 
vidual, purity  of  conduct,  than  can  the  highly  respect- 
able one  of  Everton :  as  to  perfection,  no  mortal  will 
ever  have  the  task  to  write  the  history  of  a  perfect 
community. 

At  the  south  point,  or  extremity  of  the  north-west 
district,   is  a  delightful  villa,   on  which   stands  an 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  279 

elegant,  spacious  mansion,  erected  by  the  late  Joseph 
Brooks,  Esq.,  father  of  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Brooks,  of 
whom  mention  has  been  already  made. 

In  the  early  and  middle  stages  of  his  life,  the  late 
Joseph  Brooks,  Esq.,  was  an  active  and  a  highly 
useful  member  of  society ;  he  was  able  and  intelligent, 
and  frequently  came  forward  to  render  the  township 
of  Everton  essential  service;  he  was  one  of  those 
settlers,  already  alluded  toyi  who,  being  more  enlight- 
ened than  were  Everton' s  quondam  nobles,  introduced 
many  vigorous  and  beneficial  measures  into  the 
administration  of  its  affairs.  The  late  Mr.  Brooks 
might  be  placed  mid-way  between  the  old  and  the 
new  school  of  manners ;  with  enough  of  the  genteel, 
yet  formal  bearing  of  the  ancient,  there  was  blended 
in  his  carriage  and  demeanor  much  of  the  ease  and 
approach  to  elegance  of  the  modern ;  in  his  personal 
appearance  there  was  that  which  stamped  and  declared 
him  to  be  of  patrician  rank :  he  was  a  deputy-lieu- 
tenant and  magistrate  of  the  county,  and  likewise  a 
member  of  the  body  corporate  of  Liverpool ;  he  died 
on  the  3d  August,  1823.  This  villa  is  now  the  pro- 
perty of  the  heirs  of  the  late  Alexander  Me  Gregor, 
Esq.,  late  chief  director  of  the  branch  bank  established 
at  Manchester  by  the  directors  of  the  bank  of  Eng- 
land. Mr.  Me  Gregor  resided  for  many  years  at  this 
villa,  which,  before  his  time,  had  been  long  the  pro- 
perty and  residence  of  Samuel  Newton,  Esq. 

With  its  east  front  to  Hill-side,  adjoining,  on  the 
north,  to  the  last-named  villa,  is  locality  4,  a,  a  most 


280  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

delightful  and  highly  valuable  patch  of  land,  the  pro- 
perty of  William  Earle,  Esq.  This  is  a  desirable 
place  on  which  to  form  one  or  more  villas ;  it  has  two 
extensive  fronts,  one  to  Hill-side,  and  the  other  to 
Netherfield-road  north ;  it  also  commands  most  charm- 
ing and  extensive  prospects. 

In  Lodge-lane,  adjoining  Mr.  Earle's  valuable  lot, 
in  the  north,  is  a  handsome  dwelling  and  appropriate 
grounds,  which  were  occupied,  a  few  months  ago,  by 
the  owner,  Alexander  Forrest,  Esq.,  a  solicitor  of 
long  and  respectable  standing  in  Liverpool.  Mr. 
Forrest  duly  appreciated  the  charms  and  comforts  of 
this  villa ;  but  the  medical  men  prescribed  a  milder 
air,  in  consequence  of  which,  he  is  trying  the  bland 
climate  of  Wavertree. 

The  township  of  Everton  is  much  indebted  to  Mr. 
Forrest,  for  many  useful  gratuitous  services,  during  a 
series  of  successive  years :  he  was  always  punctually 
at  his  post  at  most  municipal  meetings,  and  prompt 
and  active  in  aiding  and  furthering  public  business, 
in  the  tactics  and  etiquette  of  which  he  was  well 
versed.  Together  with  some  other  worthy  indivi- 
duals of  Everton,  Mr.  Forrest  might  be  justly  deemed 
the  prototype  of  unpaid  magistracy. 

Some  forty  yards  on  the  north  of  Mr.  Forrest's 
villa,  resides  the  next  of  Everton' s  lords  of  the  soil, 
Edward  Ledward,  Esq.,  at  a  spacious  and  commodious 
mansion  which  stands  on  the  east  side  of  a  very  charm- 
ing villa,  formed,  or  rather  commenced,  some  twenty 
years  ago  by  the  late  Thomas  Wiatt,  Esq. ;  on  the 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  281 

death  of  which  gentleman  it  was  sold  to  Thomas 
Hughes,  Esq.,  solicitor,  of  Liverpool,  who  finished  the 
architectural  operations  commenced  by  Mr.  Wiatt. 
This  villa  is  agreeably  seated  in  the  heart  of  a  highly 
respectable  neighbourhood,  and  in  respect  to  charm- 
ing prospects,  pure  air,  and  what  may  be  termed 
genteel-rurality  of  character,  is  second  to  none  in  the 
township.  Mr.  Ledward  (in  co-partnery  with  his  very 
worthy  brother,  late  of  Roscommon-street,  Everton,) 
is  an  extensive  hat  manufacturer,  of  Liverpool :  he  is 
hospitable  and  cheerful,  and  seems  to  be  travelling 
through  life  as  only  on  a  pleasurable  excursion. 

At  some  short  distance  on  the  north  of  Mr.  Led- 
ward's  villa  dwells  Joseph  Hornby,  Esq.,  at  a  mansion 
erected  a  few  years  ago  by  James  Atherton,  Esq. 
Mr.  Hornby  is  a  merchant  of  Liverpool,  entitled  by 
his  consanguine  and  matrimonial  connexions  to  class 
high  in  the  aristocratic  ranks  of  the  county;  time, 
however,  must  supply  the  future  annalist  with  more 
extensive  data  than,  it  is  candidly  acknowledged,  are 
in  the  possession  of  the  compiler  of  these  annals. 

On  the  north  of  Mr.  Hornby  resides  James  Atherton, 
Esq.,  at  a  villa  which,  for  many  successive  years  last 
past,  he  has  been  embellishing  and  improving;  he 
seems  to  be  forming  villa  after  villa  in  his  immediate 
neighbourhood,  in  an  elegant  style,  and  on  a  highly 
respectable  scale ;  the  villas  recently  formed  by  Mr. 
Atherton,  called  "  Grecian  Terrace,"  as  a  cluster  of 
domiciles,  have  no  rival  at  Everton ;  there  is,  indeed, 


282  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

an  air  of  neatness  and.  finish  about  them,  that  is  both 
pleasing  and  novel. 

On  the  east  side  of  Lodge-lane,  opposite  to  Mr. 
Atherton's  residence,  stands  the  church  of  St.  George, 
which,  until  very  recently,  was  the  only  church  in  the 
township  of  Everton ;  nor  is  there  any  written  or  oral 
tradition  extant  to  warrant  even  a  supposition  that, 
previous  to  this  erection,  there  ever  was  a  church  at 
Everton,  which  stood  on  consecrated  ground. 

In  the  year  1813  a  few  respectable  individuals 
raised  the  sum  of  £11,500,  in  subscription  shares  of 
£100  each,  for  the  purpose  of  erecting,  and  with  the 
money  so  raised  they  did  erect,  the  present  church  of 
St.  George,  which  now  very  nearly  occupies  the  site 
of  land  whereon  had  stood  for  many  centuries  a  fire 
beacon,  the  last  remaining  relique  of  antiquity  in  the 
township,  the  ancient  cross  excepted:  the  church 
indeed  covers  more  ground  than  that  on  which  the 
ancient  beacon  stood,  and  the  holy  structure,  together 
with  its  cemetery,  extend  westwardly  considerably 
beyond  the  limits  of  any  land  that  tradition  speaks  of 
as  having  been  allotted  to  the  beacon.  The  chancel 
of  the  church,  in  which  is  a  splendid  window  of  stained 
glass,  is  placed  very  near  to  where  the  old  beacon 
stood. 

There  could  scarcely  have  been  selected  a  more 
eligible  spot  on  which  to  erect  this  holy  fabric,  which, 
standing  in  the  north  quarter  of  the  township,  affords 
to  that  now  grown  populous  part  of  Everton  great 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  283 

accommodation  in  the  performance  of  their  religious 
duties;  and  offers  similar  facilities  and  advantages 
to  the  people  of  Kirkdale  and  other  adjacent  places. 
The  church  of  St.  George,  in  Everton,  is  a  handsome, 
pleasing  specimen  of  architectural  taste;  it  is  in  a 
great  measure  of  the  gothic  order;  and  though  its 
construction  is  strong  in  effect,  yet  its  appearance  is 
ornamentally  light ;  it  is  a  pleasing  and  conspicuous 
feature  in  the  scene,  from  whatever  station  it  may 
be  viewed;  and  if  any  one  who  delights  in  grand 
and  charming  prospects  would  wish  amply  to  gratify 
himself,  let  him  ascend  the  steeple  of  this  church  on 
an  unclouded  day,  from  whence,  at  an  elevation  of 
about  ninety  feet  from  the  ground,  he  will  be  gra- 
tified with  most  interesting,  picturesque,  and  beautiful 
scenery,  in  whatever  direction  he  shall  please  to  cast 
his  eyes. 

The  first  stone  of  this  edifice  was  laid  on  the  19th 
April,  1813,  and  on  the  30th  October,  1814,  was 
opened  for  the  public  performance  of  divine  worship ; 
having  been  consecrated  by  the  bishop  of  Chester  on 
the  26th  October,  of  the  same  year.  To  this  church 
is  attached  an  extensive  and  admirably  adapted 
cemetery ;  the  thin  coat  of  light  dry  soil  which  lies 
on  its  surface  has  a  substratum  of  solid  rock,  where 
deep,  secure,  and  dry  vaults  are  constructed,  by  the 
pick-axe  only,  without  absolutely  requiring  the  mason 
or  the  bricklayer's  exertions.  In  forming  a  path  on 
the  surface  of  this  cemetery,  on  the  south  side  of  the 
church,  two  skeletons  were  dug  up ;  whose  they  were 


284  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

is,  of  course,  uncertain ;  but  it  may  be  presumed  that 
they  were  two  of  Prince  Rupert's  soldiers,  for  war 
has  many  casualties,  and  many  soldiers  are  uncere- 
moniously interred  in  unconsecrated  ground ; — or  it 
might  be  that  they  belonged  to  some  unfortunate 
beings  who  were  villainously  and  violently  deprived 
of  life. 

In  the  Appendix  will  be  found  some  extracts  from 
the  act  of  parliament  by  virtue  of  which  this  church 
was  erected,  and  other  matter  touching  the  affairs  of 
this  holy  edifice. 

To  make  a  transition  from  the  church  to  the 
minister,  is  as  natural  as  it  is  hoped  will  be  con- 
sidered proper  and  consistent.  A  truly  pious  and 
exemplary  minister  of  the  established  church,  the 
Rev.  Robert  Pedder  Buddicoin,  A.M.,  F.A.S.,  is  the 
present  and  first  chosen  chaplain  of  the  church  of 
St.  George,  in  Everton ;  the  conduct,  character,  and 
talent  of  the  reverend  gentleman  need  no  record  in 
these  pages ;  his  flock  is  numerous,  principally  com- 
posed of  persons  of  intelligence  and  respectability; 
but  all  his  hearers,  high  and  low,  rich  and  poor, 
elevated  and  humble,  reverence,  esteem,  and  admire 
their  spiritual  shepherd. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Buddicom  resides  at  a  handsome 
villa,  in  Lodge-lane,  which  is  his  own  property,  and 
stands  at  a  very  convenient  distance  from  the  holy 
edifice,  being  only  a  few  hundred  yards  in  the  south 
from  the  west  entrance  gates  of  the  church  \  over  all 
the  appointed  duties  there  performed,  the  reverend 


ST.  GEORGE'S  CHURCH,  EVERTON. 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  287 

gentleman  is  piously  to  preside,  until  it  may  please 
the  All-wise  Master  whom  he  serves  to  call  him  to 
the  joys  of  "  another  and  a  better  world." 

It  is  a  too  generally  received  opinion,  that  a  public- 
house  is  a  necessary  appendage  to  a  church;  but  to 
attempt  to  refute  such  an  opinion,  would  be  calling 
in  question  the  intelligence  and  good  taste  of  the 
reader,  therefore  only  the  facts  connected  with  the 
case  in  question  will  be  stated. 

Adjoining  to  the  cemetery  of  St.  George,  on  the 
south,  in  Church-street,  and  coeval  with  the  church 
itself,  stands  a  very  spacious  brick  edifice,  erected  by 
James  Atherton,  Esq.,  which  was  first  occupied  by  a 
Mr.  Joseph  Dale,  a  licensed  victualler,  and  opened 
to  the  public  under  the  title  of  St.  George's  Hotel ; 
there  was  a  bowling-green  attached  to  this  hotel,  on 
the  west,  as  were  also  very  extensive  stable  offices 
and  other  commodious  outbuildings ;  its  south  wing 
contained  two  good  billiard  tables ;  there  was  also  a 
roomy  tap,  or  place  for  the  reception  and  accom- 
modation of  the  lower  order  of  customers.  Mr.  Dale 
kept  the  house  open  a  few  years,  and  in  the  year 
1818  was  succeeded  in  the  direction  and  management 
of  the  establishment  by  a  Mr.  John  Arundell. 

Owing  to  the  want  of  good  management  on  the 
part  of  the  innkeepers,  or  to  the  lack  of  what  a 
miller  would  call  GRIST,  the  undertaking  failed,  and 
in  the  year  1822  the  hotel  establishment  was  broken 
up ;  the  house  itself  was  converted  into  a  respectable 
seminary,  and  the  bowling-green  into  a  pleasure  or 


288  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

play  ground  for  the  pupils.     The  tap-room  (which  is  * 
a  detached  building  on  the  south)  has,  however,  con- 
tinued to  be  licensed,  and  is  still  a  public-house,  kept 
by  Mr.  Robert  Parry,  who  is  a  very  striving,  civil, 
pains-taking  person. 

The  academy  now  established  at  the  ci-devant 
hotel  of  St.  George,  is  conducted  by  Mr.  Thomas 
Harris,  on  whom  public  rumour  bestows  praise,  as  the 
desert  both  of  private  conduct  and  the  judicious 
management  of  his  seminary ;  it  is  a  treat  to  see  the 
healthy  and  neat  appearance  of  the  youths  of  this 
school,  as,  in  orderly  rank  and  file,  they  proceed  on 
Sabbath-days  to  and  from  one  of  the  churches  of 
Liverpool.  The  place  is  admirably  adapted  for  its 
present  purpose;  the  play-ground  is  a  treasure  to 
the  pupils  during  their  leisure  hours,  where  they 
inhale,  in  the  very  essence  of  their  purity,  the  breezes 
which  at  most  seasons  of  the  year  progress  from  the 
sea  to  the  interior. 

In  the  year  1804,  very  near,  if  not  precisely  on, 
the  site  of  the  before-named  tap-room,  government 
was  permitted,  by  James  Atherton,  Esq.,  to  establish 
a  signal  station,  which  was  long  under  the  super- 
intendence and  command  of  the  late  Lieut.  James 
Watson,  R.N.  This  gentleman  took  great  pride  and 
pleasure  in  keeping  in  the  neatest  order  a  beautiful 
little  garden,  that  lay  on  the  south,  and  close  before 
the  door  of  the  cottage,  which  was  constructed  of  wood, 
and  stood  at  the  north  end  of  the  station.  The  cottage 
was  a  snug  place  of  abode,  constructed  and  fitted 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  289 

up  in  a  cabin-like,  sailor's  way,  and  the  whole  place 
was  perfectly  adequate  to  the  comfortable  accommo-  / 
dation  of  the  commander -in-chief  of  the  station,  and 
some  two  or  three  assistants,  who  were  usually  super- 
annuated seamen. 

Mr.  Watson  was  highly  esteemed,  and  his  excel- 
lent demeanor  introduced  him  into  the  highest 
circle  of  Everton's  society.  It  was  with  unfeigned 
regret  his  friends  heard  that  he  had  somewhat  sud- 
denly departed  this  life,  very  soon  after  the  arrival  of 
the  angel  of  peace  in  our  then  long  war-afflicted 
land;  the  latter  event  caused  the  signal  establishment 
at  Everton  to  be  broken  up.  Mr.  Watson  died  30th 
July,  1815. 

At  this  station  a  telegraph  was  constructed,  which 
communicated  with  other  stations,  particularly  with 
one  on  Bidston-hill,  in  Cheshire,  and  through  it  with 
others  more  in  the  west ;  but  happily  no  attempt  was 
made  by  the  enemy,  so  as  to  give  those  excellent  pre- 
cautionary, or  premonitory,  establishments  the  employ- 
ment for  which  they  were  originally  chiefly  intended. 
It  was  about  a  year  after  the  termination  of  the  late 
war,  that  the  whole  of  the  Everton  signal  station  was 
broken  up — the  snug  cabin,  the  neat  garden,  the 
telegraph,  and  all  their  appurtenances  and  appliances, 
being  then  utterly  demolished  and  swept  away. 

There  is  a  cluster  of  some  four  dwellings,  with 
gardens  in  their  rear,  in  a  continuous  line  with  the 
tap-room,  on  the  south,  in  Church-street. 

At  the  south-east  angle  of  the  north-west  district 

u 


290  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

of  Everton,  is  locality  2,  p,  whose  south  front  forms 
the  entire  north  border  of  Priory-lane.  In  the  year 
1 790,  this  place  was  a  field,  yielding  only  very  scanty 
herbage,  and  then  presenting  no  appearance  worthy 
of  a  second  glance  :  but  now  the  observer's  eye  may 
long  delightedly  look  on  its  altered  appearance,  being 
converted  into  one  of  Everton's  most  charming  villas. 
The  mansion  was  erected  by  Mr.  Henry  Orme,  an 
extensive  brewer  of  Liverpool,  upwards  of  twenty 
years  ago,  but  many  improvements  have  been  made 
in  the  place  since  his  time;  it  has  been  long  the 
property,  and  is  now  in  the  occupancy,  of  Ormerod 
Hey  worth,  Esq.,  a  merchant  extensively  engaged  in 
the  commerce  of  South  America,  and  is  as  desirable 
a  place  of  residence  for  persons  necessitated  daily  to 
attend  the  business  of  a  maritime  port,  and  who  yet 
desire  to  partake  of  the  advantages  of  a  delightful 
semi-rural  domicile,  as  can  be  any  where  found. 

The  exterior  of  Mr.  O.  Hey  wood's  villa  has,  how- 
ever, one  blemish — a  blemish,  by-the-bye,  too  pre- 
valent in  the  township — the  outermost  of  the  fence- 
walls,  in  structure  and  materials,  being  only  sufficiently 
decorous  to  fence  in  or  enclose  a  patch  of  pasturage, 
or  common  field ;  but  such  a  villa  as  this  is,  should 
be  murally  enclosed  with  the  finer  kind  of  free-stone, 
constructed  and  chiseled  with  masonic  taste  and  skill, 
in  some  such  a  style  as  that  in  which  the  west  front  of 
Mr.  James  Heyworth's  villa  is  becomingly  embellished 
and  finished. 

Of  all  parts  of  Everton,  the  north-west  district  has 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  291 

undergone,  if  not  the  greatest,  certainly  the  most  ad- 
vantageous changes ;  in  the  year  1 790,  on  its  whole 
face,  there  was  only  one  habitation,  that  of  the  late 
Joseph  Brooks,  Esq. :  the  greater  part  of  this  quarter 
then  consisted  of  lands  of  low  fertility ;  some,  indeed, 
were  so  sterile,  as  to  afford  hut  very  scanty  fare  for 
the  few  cattle  that  were  permitted  to  pick  a  mouthful 
where  they  could.  Some  of  the  localities  of  this 
quarter  were  thickly  strewed  with  thistles,  flea-nuts, 
and  gorse  bushes ;  but  now  how  altered !  the  industry 
and  wealth  of  man  have  studded  this  part  of  Everton 
with  elegant  mansions,  beautiful  pleasure-grounds, 
and  productive  gardens ;  the  few  remaining  pasture- 
lands  have  been  highly  improved  with  rich  composts, 
and  what  is  the  greatest  of  all,  in  the  scale  of  advan- 
tages, the  place  has  become  the  happy  abode  of  many 
honest  men,  excellent  matrons,  and  bonny  lasses. 

CENTRE  DISTRICT. 

The  centre  district  of  Everton  is  bounded  on  the 
west  by  Hill-side  and  Netherfield-road  south ;  on  the 
south  by  Everton  village  and  Breck-lane;  on  the 
east  by  Hangfield-lane ;  on  the  north  by  Mere-lane ; 
and  again,  on  the  west,  for  a  short  distance,  by  Church- 
street.  The  locality  22,  e,  in  the  year  1790,  was 
little  other  than  waste  land,  or  a  common  in  miniature, 
enclosed  or  separated  from  the  road  with  a  rude  fence, 
consisting  of  piled-up  earth,  faced  with  sods,  commonly 
called  a  bank.  About  twenty  years  ago  this  lot  was 
divided  into  two  parts,  the  northernmost  or  largest 


292  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

of  which  was  purchased,  at  the  same  time,  by  the  late 
John  Hind,  Esq.,  a  gentleman  who  had  realised  a 
handsome  fortune  as  a  shipbuilder  at  Liverpool.  Very 
shortly  after  Mr.  Hind  had  made  this  purchase,  he 
began  to  construct  a  building  which  was  originally 
intended  to  be  a  handsome  imitation  of  the  old  beacon. 
Mr.  Hind's  beacon  or  tower,  however,  proving  rather 
rickety,  to  secure  it,  he  ran  out  a  wing  to  the  west, 
thereby  giving  an  appearance  to  the  place  of  a  small 
church  -}  and  some  time  afterwards  he  added  another 
wing  to  the  south,  so  that  at  length  the  building  be- 
came what  it  is  now,  a  non-descript  in  architecture : 
if,  however,  it  must  be  classed,  perhaps  it  would  be 
most  appropriate  to  style  it  of  the  whim-sic  order. 
To  make  amends  for  the  vagaries  his  taste  had  dis- 
played in  constructing  this  mimic-beacon,  Mr.  Hind 
erected  a  truly  elegant  and  commodious  mansion  on 
the  south-west  part  of  his  land,  and  there  he  resided 
for  some  time — happily  no  doubt,  for  he  was  wont  to 
style  the  place  Elysium.  It  would  almost  seem  as  if 
the  late  Mr.  Hind  had  been  intended  for  something 
beyond  what  he  ever  attained — he  was  strongly  dis- 
posed to  be  a  director  of  public  affairs ;  it  has  been 
banteringly  said  of  him,  that  he  imitated  the  borough- 
mongers,  and  with  claret  and  strong  beer  got  elected 
mock-mayor  of  Everton ;  but  it  must  in  sincerity  be 
acknoAvledged,  that  few  persons  of  late  times  have 
taken  greater  interest  in  the  township's  concerns,  or 
rendered  Everton  better  service,  than  he  did.  Mr. 
Hind  died  in  October,  1824. 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  293 

The  smaller  division  of  locality  22,  c,  was  also 
bought  ahout  twenty  years  ago,  by  William  Byrom, 
Esq.,  an  architect,  of  high  and  long  standing,  at 
Liverpool,  who  erected  an  elegant  villa  on  its  west 
part,  at  which  he  resided  for  some  time.  When 
Mr.  Byrom  built  his  mansion,  he  fashioned  it  so  that 
the  chimney-tops  were  not  visible ;  passers  by  con- 
sidered this  an  incongruity,  and  ridiculed  the  plan 
accordingly ;  therefore,  to  please  the  multitude,  and 
to  feast  the  eye  of  the  fastidious,  Mr.  Byroin  erected 
artificial  chimney-tops,*  thereby  making  the  mansion, 
at  least  in  the  opinion  of  the  architectural  critics,  a  fit 
place  of  residence;  but  with  or  without  chimney- 
tops,  there  is  not  a  mansion  in  the  neighbourhood  which 
surpasses  it  within  for  commodiousness,  elegance,  and 
neatness,  and  externally  it  is  a  beautiful  bijou  ;  the 
grounds,  it  is  true,  are  of  limited  extent,  but  there  is 
an  air  of  elegant  respectability,  a  picturesque,  pleasing 
appearance  about  the  whole,  that  delights  all  who 
visit  it.  At  considerable  cost,  it  has  latterly  been 
much  improved,  and  highly  embellished. 

The  bifold  villa,  which  was  formerly  the  property 
of  the  late  Mr.  Hind,  has  been  purchased  by  G.  F. 
Dickson,  Esq.,  a  most  respectable  merchant  of  Liver- 
pool, who  also  owns  some  other  land  on  the  east  of  the 
lot  now  under  notice;  and  at  the  largest  of  the  man- 
sions erected  by  Mr.  Hind,  Mr.  Dickson  has  resided 
for  some  time  past. 

The  villa  formed  by  Mr.  Byrom  is  now  the  property 

*  Mr.  Byrom  afterwards  raised  other  chimneys,  after  the  usual  fashion. 


294  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

and  residence  of  James  Hey  worth,  Esq.,  the  copartner 
of  his  brother  and  neighbour,  O.  Heyworth,  Esq., 
gentlemen  who  are  prominently  active,  and  highly 
conducive  to  the  commerce,  trade,  and  welfare  of 
Liverpool,  the  rays  of  whose  prosperity  warm,  cherish, 
and  invigorate  the  growing  grandeur,  and  encrease 
the  value,  of  the  township  of  Everton. 

Adjoining  the  villa  of  James  Heyworth,  Esq.  on  the 
south,  is  locality  7,  a,  which  for  more  than  a  quarter  of 
a  century  was  the  property  and  residence  of  the  late 
John  Drinkwater,  Esq.,  whose  excellent  dwelling, 
standing  on  the  east  part  of  this  lot,  was  erected  soon 
after  the  year  1 790,  by  the  late  William  Clarke,  Esq., 
a  banker  of  Liverpool,  for  the  use  and  occupation  of  his 
mother.  Mr.  Drinkwater  had  the  welfare  and  interest 
of  the  township  much  at  heart,  and  about  twenty-five 
years  ago,  took  some  pains  to  render  it  essential 
service ;  he  collected  together,  on  a  certain  day,  in  the 
year  1804,  the  aged  and  the  young,  and  had  them 
led,  under  the  guidance  of  the  best  informed  persons, 
to  examine  into,  and  accurately  take  note  of,  the 
boundary  lines,  limits,  or  liberties  of  the  township; 
he  also  personally  convened  and  induced  many  of  the 
principal  proprietors  of  the  soil  to  meet  together,  in  the 
month  of  October  of  that  year,  to  canvass  and  con- 
verse on  the  township's  affairs,  as  Englishmen  love  to 
do,  after  a  good  dinner ;  and  he  proposed  and  urged 
them  to  form  a  band  of  council  and  of  friendship. 
At  the  first  of  their  meetings,  moderation  and  har- 
mony were  the  orders  of  the  entire  day;  the  hours 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  295 

were  rationally  spent,  and  each  individual  retired 
to  his  own  happy  home  contented  and  satisfied. 
But,  when  time  had  perfected  another  year,  a  second 
meeting  took  place,  purporting  to  have  the  same  good 
ohjects  in  view;  this  meeting,  however,  was  very 
dissimilar  in  character  and  consequences  to  that  of 
the  previous  one;  for  a  sumptuous  feast  was  pro- 
vided, mimic  authorities  and  mock  civic-officers  were  • 
created,  and  those  baubles  and  useless  appendages  of 
authority,  called  regalia,  were  introduced :  the  good- 
livers  pampered  their  palates,  and  the  votaries  of 
Bacchus  were  not  sparing  in  their  devotions ;  ceremo- 
nies, bordering  on  the  ridiculous,  were  invented  and 
practised,  and  cantators  from  the  Liverpool  Theatre 
catered  to  the  sense  of  hearing,  until  satiety  or  in- 
ebriety summoned  the  drowsy  worthies  to  their  downy 
beds.  What  beneficial  results  could  emanate  from 
such  meetings  ?  All  these  civic  feasts  were  held  at 
the  coffee-house  on  the  brow.*  Mr.  Drinkwater 
withdrew  from  such  worshipful  society,  which  survived 
but  a  few  years,  and  died  a  natural  death.  With  a 
constitution  the  reverse  of  robust,  Mr.  Drinkwater 
attained  to  a  great  age,  by  making  use  of  two  most 

*  The  following  persons  were  mock-mayors  of  Everton : 

1805,  E.  Lorimer,  1811,  Thomas  Huson, 

1806,  T.  Tattersall,  1812,  Edward  Lister, 

1807,  C.  HorsfaU,  1813,  John  Hind, 

1808,  1814,  George  Johnson, 

1809,  John  Greaves,  1815,  John  Pyke, 

1810,  William  Turner,  J  8 16,  J.  Hornby, 

and  ever  after,  the  mayors  of  Everton  have  been  returned  "nou  est 
inventvs. " 


290  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

excellent  medicines  —  temperance  and  regularity; 
blest  with  abundant  competence,  happy  and  con- 
tented, relying  on  his  own  intellectual  resources, 
he  calmly  spent  his  evening  of  life,  and,  like  the 
"man  of  Ross,"  often  indulged  his  feelings  with  the 
luxury  of  unostentatiously  doing  good.  Mr.  Drink- 
water  died  on  the  4th  November,  1829,  aged  82 
jean. 

At  the  north-west  corner  of  the  late  Mr.  Drink- 
water's  land,  stood  a  stable  erected  by  the  late  Joseph 
Brooks,  Esq.  This  place,  which  measured  only  a 
few  square  yards,  was  purchased  about  six  years  ago 
by  James  Heyworth,  Esq.  for  £300,  in  order  to  lay 
the  site  of  land  to  his  pleasure-grounds.  Just  without 
the  south-west  corner  of  Mr.  Drinkwater's  land  stood 
a  very  ancient  cottage,  already  noticed  in  the  section 
of  antiquities,  which  was  taken  down  twenty-five 
years  ago.  The  two  localities  next  on  the  south  to 
the  late  Mr.  Drinkwater's  are  marked  40,  c,  and  27, 
d,  and  in  the  year  1790  were  two  small  fields,  but 
are  now  covered  with  large,  commodious  mansions, 
pleasure-grounds,  and  serviceable  gardens.  In  the 
years  1802 — 3,  Messrs.  Aspinall,  who  were  then 
grocers  and  bankers  of  Liverpool,  erected  on  the  west 
part  of  these  localities  several  spacious  and  (internally 
at  least)  elegant  dwellings ;  the  west  fronts  of  which 
are  constructed  with  free-stone  procured  on  the  spot, 
of  that  reddish,  or  chocolate  coloured  kind  so  plenti- 
fully met  with  at  Everton.  These  edifices  it  is  said 
cost  much  more  than  the  projectors  had  estimated, 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  297 

and  the  Messrs.  Aspinall  sold  the  entire  of  them  to 
Messrs.  Fry,  of  London,  who  a  few  years  ago  disposed 
of  them  to  various  purchasers. 

The  two  northernmost  of  these  desirable  residences 
are  now  the  property  of  George  Batley,  Esq.,  and 
the  two  dwellings  next  on  the  south  of  Mr.  Batley' s 
belong  to  Miles  Barton,  Esq. ;  both  these  gentlemen 
are  most  respectable  brokers  of  Liverpool,  and  reside 
at  the  larger  of  the  mansions,  which  stand  on  their 
respective  premises.  Of  the  others  of  these  double 
mansions,  the  northernmost  pair  are  the  property  of 
John  Taylor,  Esq.,  a  merchant  and  insurance  broker, 
of  most  respectable  standing,  at  Liverpool ;  and  the 
southernmost  pair  are  the  property  of  Lewis  Stubbs, 
Esq.,  of  the  house  of  Messrs.  Ewart  and  Co.,  which 
ranks  the  first  in  the  list  of  Liverpool  brokerage- 
houses.  Mr.  Taylor  occupies  the  entire  of  his  bifold 
villa;  and  that  of  Mr.  Stubbs  is  also  entirely  in  the 
tenancy  of  Miss  Sharp,  the  conductress  of  a  most 
respectable  ladies'  seminary.  These  buildings,  in 
consequence  of  the  dark  colour  of  the  stone,  present 
a  sombre  appearance,  but  the  durability  and  dryness 
of  the  stone  amply  compensate  for  the  lack  of  external 
beauty.  There  are  two  excellent  top-springs  in  this 
neighbourhood,  one  of  which  supplies,  or  did  recently, 
some,  if  not  all,  of  these  houses  with  excellent  water ; 
the  other  spring  was  exclusively  the  late  Mr.  Drink- 
water's,  and  is  wrought  through  the  agency  of  a  pump 
in  the  garden :  it  is  somewhat  strange  that  these  top- 
springs  are  rarely  met  with  at  Everton  except  in  this 


298  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

quarter.  There  are  two  openings  or  passages  running 
through  the  lands  of  the  Aspinall  villas, — one  at  the 
extreme  north,  and  the  other  in  the  centre  ;  both  are, 
in  the  strictest  sense,  private  property. 

The  next  locality  on  Everton-terrace,  on  the  south 
of  what  are  termed  "  Aspinall's  buildings,"  is  27,  e, 
which,  in  the  year  1 790,  was  the  property  of  the  late 
James  Carruthers,  Esq.,  who  died  17th  July,  1815, 
aged  63  years.  The  house  which  then  stood  on  this 
lot  was  built  by  a  Mr.  Johnson,  a  painter,  of  Liverpool, 
who,  with  twenty  other  persons,  was  drowned  near 
the  black  rock,  whilst  on  a  marine  excursion  of  plea- 
sure. The  old  house  has  been  nearly,  if  not  altogether, 
taken  down,  and  on  its  site  the  present  proprietor, 
Thomas  Fumess  Dyson,  Esq.,  has  erected  an  elegant 
mansion,  and  converted  the  place  into  a  most  delight- 
ful villa,  particularly  the  east  front,  which,  with  its 
tasty,  though  limited,  pleasure  ground,  may  vie,  as  to 
beauty,  with  any  other  spot,  far  or  near ;  it  is  only  to 
be  regretted,  that  the  taste  which  produced  this  effect 
had  not  a  wider  field  for  display. 

Mr.  Dyson,  who  resides  at  this  charming  villa,  is  a 
merchant  of  the  first  class,  in  Liverpool,  punctual, 
regular,  and  upright  in  commercial  affairs;  at  all  times, 
and  on  all  occasions,  of  suave,  gentlemanly  deport- 
ment ;  and  every  person  with  whom  he  comes  in  con- 
tact, whether  in  public  or  private,  yields  him  respect 
and  esteem.  This  locality  was  purchased  by  Mr. 
Dyson  from  the  heirs  of  the  late  James  Brade,  Esq., 
who  died  at  this  villa  in  May,  1811.  It  is  due  to  the 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  299 

memory  of  Mr.  Brade  to  notice,  that  his  mercantile 
skill  and  operations  were  of  the  very  first  order.  His 
brother,  the  late  highly  respected  William  Brade, 
Esq.,  died  at  Everton,  13th  April,  1820,  aged  69 
years. 

Adjoining  Mr.  Dyson's  property,  on  the  south,  is 
locality  39,  a,  which,  in  the  year  1 790,  was  the  pro- 
perty of  Peter  Hope,  Esq. ;  the  house  now  standing 
on  this  lot  was  also  erected  by  the  afore-named  Mr. 
Johnson,  and  is  now  the  property  and  residence  of 
Thomas  Tattersall,  Esq.,  one  of  the  first  class  of 
Liverpool  cotton-brokers. 

Considerable  additions  and  improvements  have  been 
made  to  this  villa,  particularly  during  the  time  of  the 
late  Thomas  Tattersall,  Esq.,  who  was  the  father  of 
the  present  possessor.  The  senior  Mr.  Tattersall 
resided  at  this  place  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  during 
which  period  he  was  always  ready  and  willing  to  fur- 
ther the  interests  of  the  township ;  he  died  on  the  7th 
March,  1819. 

There  is  not  in  existence,  perhaps,  a  more  down- 
right, off-hand  person  of  business  than  the  present 
Mr.  Thomas  Tattersall,  who  possesses  a  fund  of  plea- 
santness and  good  humour,  which  many  vinegar- 
tempered  gentlemen  might  advantageously  study. 

Locality  27,  a,  with  the  road  intervening,  lies 
directly  in  front  of  the  four  last-named  villas;  this 
sloping  field  was  purchased,  more  than  twenty  years 
ago,  by  four  gentlemen,  viz.,  Messrs.  Lorimer,  Tatter- 
sall, Brade,  and  Newton,  who  resided  in  the  vicinity, 


300  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

and  who  divided  it  into  four  equal  portions  or  shares; 
it  is  said  that  these  gentlemen  purchased  tliis  lot 
to  secure  their  own  villas  from  annoyance,  and  to 
keep  the  prospect  open  to  their  fronts ;  hut  on  the 
southernmost  portion  seven  very  good  dwellings  were 
erected,  ahout  ten  years  ago,  hy  the  late  Ellis  Lorimer, 
Esq. ;  these  houses  front  Everton-terrace,  where  the 
widow  of  the  late  Mr.  Lorimer  resides.  Mr.  Lorimer 
was  a  wholesale  grocer,  of  Liverpool,  plain  in  his 
manners,  upright  in  his  transactions,  punctual  as  the 
clock  in  his  payments,  and  a  pattern  to  all  in  the 
steady  attention  he  paid  to  his  business. 

On  the  west  of  the  last-named  dwellings,  with  its 
front  to  Netherfield-road  south,  is  locality  64,  a,  which, 
in  the  year  1790,  was  the  property  and  residence  of 
the  late  Mr.  James  Hatton,  formerly  a  most  respect- 
able stationer,  of  old  Castle-street,  Liverpool.  This 
old-fashioned  rural  residence  now  belongs  to  the  Lori- 
mer family,  and  has  been  occupied,  for  a  dozen  years 
or  more,  by  conductors  of  seminaries — the  barn  and 
stables  having  been  converted  into  a  school-room. 
The  school  establishment  was  commenced  by  the  late 
Rev.  Mr.  Hadfield,  and  continued  by  Mr.  Esbie,  but 
has  very  recently  changed  hands,  and  is  now  conducted 
by  Mr.  Knowles,  with  able  assistants. 

At  the  north-west  corner  of  locality  64,  a,  is  a  deep 
well,  with  a  good  pump.  These  are  public  property, 
and  open  to  the  free  use  of  the  inhabitants  of  Everton: 
the  pump  has  been  put  down  at  the  township's  expense, 
and  the  land,  being  48  square  yards,  was  purchased 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  301 

by  the  township  from  the  late  Mr.  Joshua  Rose,  for 
the  sum  of  twenty-one  pounds,  on  the  16th  April, 
1787;  this  gentleman  had  the  first  pump  put. down, 
and  also  had  the  well  sunk. 

Ascending  again  to  the  Ten-ace,  the  next  locality  is 
that  marked  7,  c,  which,  in  the  year  1790,  was  the 
property  of  the  late  William  Clarke,  Esq.,  the  elder 
of  that  name,  who  was  indeed  a  highly  respected  and 
truly  worthy  gentleman,  a  banker,  of  Liverpool,  and 
father  of  the  late  John  Clarke,  Esq.,  banker,  of  that 
town.  The  elder  Mr.  Clarke  erected  the  greater  part 
of  the  spacious  mansion  which  now  stands  nearly  in 
the  centre  of  this  locality. 

William  Clarke,  Esq.,  the  younger,  resided  for 
some  time  at  this  villa ;  but  he  sojourned  occasionally 
in  Italy,  from  whence,  it  is  said,  he  brought  many 
valuable  MSS,  touching  the  Medici  family,  together 
with  many  other  matters  highly  valuable  in  the  esti- 
mation of  the  painter  and  the  poet,  and  useful  to  the 
scholar.  After  the  demise  of  the  younger  W.  Clarke, 
Esq.,  this  villa,  together  with  other  adjacent  property, 
was  purchased  by  the  late  Nicholas  Waterhouse,  the 
elder,  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  whose 
character  stood  high  in  the  consideration  of  that  moral 
community.  The  late  N.  Waterhouse,  the  elder,  was 
for  many  years,  by  common  consent  as  it  were,  styled 
the  chief  or  first  of  the  cotton  brokers  of  Liverpool ;  he 
made  considerable  additions  to,  and  greatly  improved 
and  embellished,  the  mansion  of  this  villa ;  he  died  the 
19th  November,  1823. 


302  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

The  lane  between  this  locality,  7,  c,  and  that  marked 
51,  a,  (which  also  belongs  to  the  Waterhouse  family) 
was  first  constructed  and  opened  by  the  late  William 
Clarke,  Esq.,  the  elder,  when  he  built  his  mansion. 
Ever  since  its  first  formation,  pedestrians  have  had  free 
passage  through  this  road  -,  and  even  when  a  gate  was 
placed  at  the  east  end  of  this  lane,  soon  after  Mr. 
Waterhouse  made  his  purchase,  a  space  was  left  open 
for  the  use  and  convenience  of  foot  passengers : — the 
old  inhabitants  state,  that  this  road  has  been  open  to 
the  public  for  fifty  years.  The  very  worthy  widow  of 
the  late  Nicholas  Waterhouse  continues  to  reside  at 
this  delightful  villa. 

The  land  immediately  on  the  west  of  locality  7,  c, 
is  divided  into  two  distinct  lots,  which,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  reserved  passage  or  road  in  the  centre,  sepa- 
rate the  Waterhouse  villa  from  the  terrace ;  the  lot  in 
the  north-west  quarter  is  marked  72,  a,  and  was,  in 
the  year  1 790,  the  property  of  a  Mr.  David  Jones : 
there  are  two  old  dwellings  on  it,  joined  together — 
larger  kind  of  cottages,  but  of  no  peculiar  style,  the 
property  of  Mrs.  Waterhouse,  and  generally  let  to 
respectable  people.  At  one  of  these  houses  the  grand- 
parents of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Buddicom  resided  for  some 
time. 

The  lot  on  the  south-west  of  Mrs.  Waterhouse's 
premises  is  a  charming  villa,  marked  69,  «,  formerly 
the  property  of  the  late  James  Parke,  Esq.,  but  now 
of  his  heirs,  James  Blundell,  Esq.,  manufacturer  of 
tobacco,  at  Liverpool,  and  others.  Mr.  Parke  erected 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  303 

the  house  of  this  villa,  where  he  dwelt  a  considerable 
time. 

Crossing  the  Terrace-road,  immediately  in  front  of 
the  last-noticed  villa,  stands  a  humble-looking',  but 
very  comfortable,  brick-built  cottage,  69,  b.  It  were 
wrong  to  pass  this  place  altogether  without  notice,  for 
at  it  there  long  dwelt  a  good  and  kind  matron,  one 
who  has  often  attended  and  cherished,  with  care  and 
tenderness,  the  sick,  the  infirm,  the  delicate  of  consti- 
tution, and  the  convalescent,  and  at  all  times  admi- 
nistered to  the  comforts,  wants,  and  conveniences  of 
those  who  occasionally  lodged  under  her  roof.  Such 
was  the  late  Nurse  Best,  who  died  23d  November, 
1815;  and  her  daughter,  following  the  mother's  ex- 
ample, still  strives  to  make  her  residence  a  happy  and 
comfortable  home  to  its  inmates :  this  place  also  be- 
longs to  Mr.  Blundell  and  others,  the  heirs  of  the  late 
Mr.  Parke. 

The  localities  67,  a,  and  54,  a,  are  now  the 
property  of  John  Higginson,  Esq.,  a  most  respectable 
merchant  of  Liverpool,  who  is  extensively  engaged  in 
trade,  principally  to  Barbadoes.  The  house  standing 
on  the  first-named  part  of  Mr.  Higginson's  property 
was  built  by  Mr.  Samuel  Alcock ;  the  broad-fronted 
mansion  and  range  of  buildings  on  the  latter-named 
part  of  that  gentleman's  premises,  were  erected  by  a 
Mr.  Rylance.  This  property  presents,  from  the  sea- 
board, perhaps  the  most  conspicuous  appearance  of 
any  object  in  Everton;  from  the  platform,  erected 
on  the  roof  of  the  larger  house,  the  view  is  com- 


304  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

manding,  and  strikingly  pleasing;  but  in  return,  these 
houses  (and  indeed  all  dwellings  hereabout)  have 
frequently  to  endure  the  "  pelting  of  the  pitiless 
storm." 

For  a  great  number  of  years  the  late  Ellis  Lorimer, 
Esq.  resided  at  the  south  part  of  Mr.  Higginson's 
now  enlarged  villa.  In  addition  to  what  has  already 
been  stated  of  Mr.  Lorimer,  it  may  be  said,  that  he 
was  at  all  times  disposed  to  aid  and  assist  in  the  well 
regulating,  directing,  and  governing  Everton's  muni- 
cipal affairs :  he  died  at  this  villa,  on  the  20th  July, 
1818,  aged  63  years;  and  shortly  after  his  demise  the 
place  was  sold  to  Mr.  Higginson,  together  with  the 
principal  part  of  the  next  noticed  locality. 

Although  locality  15,  q,  is  separated  from  Mr. 
Higginson's  residence  by  the  Terrace-road,  it  may 
be  deemed,  notwithstanding,  a  sort  of  lawn  to  his 
mansion;  and  the  possession  of  the  place  is  to  him 
invaluable,  since  it  puts  it  out  of  the  power  of  others 
to  obstruct  his  prospect  westwardly,  or  in  any  other 
way  to  annoy  him.  The  south  part  of  locality  15,  q, 
was  purchased  about  twenty  years  ago,  by  the  late 
George  Roach,  Esq. 

On  the  south,  adjoining  Mr.  Higginson's  residence, 
is  locality  59,  a;  this  place  has  recently  undergone 
material  change :  about  nine  years  since  two  excel- 
lent houses  were  taken  down,  and,  in  the  year  1820, 
a  stately  edifice  was  built  on  their  sites.  This  loca- 
lity has  been  long  the  property  of  a  Liverpool  family, 
named  Hope ;  and  at  the  spacious  and  elegant  man- 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  305 

sion  that  now  graces  this  villa,  Samuel  Hope,  Esq., 
a  banker,  of  Liverpool,  resides,  to  whom  the  pro- 
perty now  belongs.  Of  Mr.  Samuel  Hope,  it  may  be 
said,  that  he  ever  seems  to  keep  the  example  of  the 
"good  Samaritan"  in  view — to  the  poor  and  the  un- 
educated he  has  been,  and  still  continues  to  be,  a  fer- 
vent, active,  and  sincere  friend. 

It  is  now  eighteen  years  since  the  late  George 
Roach,  Esq.  purchased  the  south  part  of  locality  15,  q, 
and  the  north  part  of  50,  a,  for  which  he  gave  the 
then  unprecedented  price  of  13s.  per  superficial  square 
yard;  these  purchases  he  laid  together,  and  formed 
a  beautiful  villa,  on  which  he  erected  a  very  exten- 
sive and  commodious  mansion — this  villa,  from  the 
cost  of  its  formation,  might  with  propriety  be  called 
Potosi. 

The  late  Mr.  Roach  was  a  very  respectable  mer- 
chant of  Liverpool,  one  of  those  British  settlers,  who 
quitted  Portugal  when  the  king  of  that  country  re- 
moved his  court  to  Brazil :  until  very  lately  the  family, 
of  Mr.  Roach  continued  to  reside  at  this  villa,  but  on 
the  llth  May,  1829,  it  was  sold  to  J.  M.  Cowgill, 
Esq.,  for  £4500  :  *  the  formation  and  completion  of 
it  had  cost  Mr.  Roach  more  than  £10,000:  this 
case  verifies  the  adage,  that  "  it  is  better  to  buy  than 
to  build." 

*  In  consequence  of  some  restrictions,  forbidding  buildings  to  be  erected 
on  the  west  border  of  this  villa,  Mr.  Cowgill  declined  the  bargain ;  the 
place  has  since  been  purchased  by  Samuel  Hope,  Esq.,  who,  being  the. 
owner  of  the  adjoining  property,  has  the  power  of  removing  or  doing  away 
with  the  restrictions  altogether. 

X 


306  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

Adjoining,  on  the  south,  the  villa  last-noticed,  is 
locality  50,  a,  which,  in  the  year  1790,  was  the  pro- 
perty and  residence  of  the  late  Daniel  Backhouse, 
Esq.,  a  gentleman  who,  for  a  long  series  of  years,  was 
most  extensively  engaged  in  the  commerce  of  Liver- 
pool, and  whose  talent  and  application  raised  him  to 
a  high  state  of  opulence  and  respect  ;  he  will  be  long 
rememhered  for  the  pride  and  pleasure  he  took  in  per- 
forming the  duties  of  hospitality.  There  are  many 
individuals,  of  eminent  note  in  the  world,  who  are 
highly,  if  not  altogether,  indebted  to  the  late  Mr. 
Backhouse's  patronage  and  support,  for  the  wealth, 
the  splendour,  and  the  consideration  they  enjoy;  he 
was  a  true,  permanent,  and  sincere  patron.  The  old 
house  still  standing  on  this  locality  was  built  by  a 
family  of  the  name  of  Harrison,  as  was  also  the  house 
that  stood  at  the  opposite  side  of  the  Terrace-road,  on 
the  east;  at  this  latter  house,  which  was  formerly 
called  Cob-hall,  the  Harrisons  resided.  About  two 
years  ago  Samuel  Hope,  Esq.,  bought  locality  50,  a, 
and  last  year  erected  the  handsome  house  which  stands 
on  the  south  of  the  old  dwelling. 

Locality  50,  6,  was  also  the  property  of  the  late  D. 
Backhouse,  Esq. ;  this  place  lay  on  the  east  of  50,  a  ; 
the  house,  which  had  nothing  either  externally  or 
internally  to  recommend  it  to  notice,  projected  much 
into  the  Terrace-road,  where  it  was  inconveniently 
and  dangerously  narrow.  In  the  year  1818,  the  re- 
maining and  greater  part  of  locality  50,  &,  was  sold 
to  the  township,  and  to  Charles  Shand,  Esq. ;  the  old 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  307 

house  which  stood  on  the  south  was  taken  down,  the 
road  widened,  and  Mr.  Shand  added  his  part  of  the 
purchase  to  his  own  adjoining  lands.*  It  has  been 
already  stated,  in  the  section  of  Antiquities,  that  an 
ancient  cottage  stood  at  the  north  end  of  this  locality, 
winch,  with  its  yard  and  outbuildings,  was  sold  to  the 
late  Mr.  Roach,  who  took  down  the  buildings,  and,  in 
the  year  1810,  erected  and  formed,  for  the  convenience 
of  his  villa,  the  stabling  establishment  that  is  now  on 
the  sites  of  the  old  cottage  and  out-offices.  The  alte- 
rations made  in  this  part  of  the  road  have  been  highly 
advantageous  to  the  community  at  large,  particularly 
as  regards  its  appearance,  and  safety  of  passage. 
Mr.  Backhouse  died  on  the  6th  August,  1811. 

Jutting  out,  in  a  wedge-like  shape,  from  locality  50, 
a,  to  the  south,  is  locality  68,  a,  the  property  of  the 
representatives  of  the  late  Mr.  Joseph  EUinthorp,  who 

*  The  portion  of  this  land  sold  to  Mr.  Shand  amounted  to.  .£213  17s. 
Ditto  do.  to  the  Township 186    3 

£400    0 

The  Township  paid £64    3s. 

The  Old  House  sold  for 43    0 

The  following  gentlemen  contributed:' 

Geo.  Roach,  Esq £30 

N.  Waterhouse 10 

T.  F.  Dyson,  Esq 10 

T.  Tattersall,  Esq 5 

S.  Hope,  Esq 5  ^-     79    0 

Seacome  Ellison,  Esq 5 

J.  Me  George,  Esq.  ...„...,        I 

G.  Goring,  Esq 5 

J.  Carson,  Esq 3 

J.  Higginson,  Esq 5J 

£186     3 


HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

died  in  1829,  aged  88  years.  For  a  long  series  of 
years  he  officiated  in  the  affairs  of  the  township,  in  a 
somewhat  similar  character  to  that  of  clerk  to  the 
justices  of  the  peace,  but  the  emoluments,  arising 
from  his  services  in  the  above  capacity,  were  always 
much  more  circumscribed  than  are  those  of  legitimate 
clerks  of  the  magistracy.  Mr.  Ellinthorp  resided  in 
Everton  for  nearly  sixty  years,  and  was  well  ac- 
quainted with  the  township's  affairs.  Some  passages 
of  this  treatise  have  been  drawn  from  his  information, 
but  unfortunately  the  compilation  of  the  work  was  not 
contemplated  until  his  years  and  infirmities  had  weak- 
ened his  powers  of  memory.  Some  time  previous  to 
the  year  1780,  Mr.  Ellinthorp  established  the  first 
school  of  any  note  that  is  known  to  have  been  opened 
at  Everton;  but  it  is  now  very  long  since  he  gave  it 
up,  and  retired  on  a  competence  equal  to  his  wants, 
if  not  to  his  wishes ;  he  built  all  the  houses  which 
stand  on  locality  68,  a,  save  the  one  second  on  the 
south.  In  taking  leave  of  this  patriarch  of  Everton, 
it  must  be  said,  that  the  true  cause  of  his  making  little 
progress  in  popularity,  at  which  it  was  evident  he 
sometimes  aimed,  was,  that  he  lacked  the  suaviter  in 
modo,  possessed,  or  at  least  seemingly  possessed,  by 
all  popularity-hunters.  In  one  of  the  houses  belong- 
ing to  the  heirs  of  the  late  Mr.  Ellinthorp  the  post- 
office  of  Everton  is  established,  kept  by  a  Mr.  Edward 
Thomas,  where  letters  are  received,  and  despatched 
from  and  to  Liverpool  daily,  Sundays  excepted,  at 
the  hours  of  twelve  at  noon,  and  eight  at  night. 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  309 

It  may  be  as  well  now  to  step  across  the  road  of 
Bro.w-side,  where,  on  an  insular  patch  of  land,  stands 
not  only  the  locality  62,  a,  but  also,  on  the  north  of 
that  locality,  a  spot  of  ground  belonging  to  the  town- 
ship, admirably  adapted  for  a  small  public  building — 
such  as  a  free-school,  for  instance.  There  is  a  short, 
narrow  passage  which  runs  the  greater  part  of  the  way 
between  the  ground  of  the  township  and  the  north 
'parts  of  locality  62,  a  ;  the  south  front  of  which  loca- 
lity is  filled  up  with  small-sized  dwellings,  that  have 
been  already  noticed  in  the  section  of  Antiquities.  At 
the  westernmost  of  these  dwellings  is  a  manufactory 
of  that  luscious  and  far-famed  commodity,  called 
"  Everton  Toffy ;  "  which  for  more  than  twenty  years 
has  been  conducted  under  the  management  of  Mrs. 
Cooper. 

On  the  south,  or  in  the  front  of  these  last-named 
dwellings,  and  separated  from  them  by  an  ancient 
foot-path  over  the  brow,  lies  a  triangular-shaped  patch 
of  land,  bounded  on  all  sides  by  the  public  roads ;  this 
is  locality  61,  a,  the  property  of  the  township.  This 
spot  of  ground  has  been  frequently  enclosed  with 
strong  wood  rails,  at  the  township's  expense,  but 
mischief,  malice,  or  wantonness  have  constantly  de- 
stroyed them;  it  has  been  lately  determined,  how- 
ever, to  have  this  lot  surrounded  with  a  strong,  but 
low  stone  wall,  surmounted  with  handsome  iron  rail- 
ings, within  which  the  whole  lot  is  now  enclosed,* 

*  The  exterior  wall,  164  yards,  was  contracted  for  at  8s.  6d.  per  yard  for 
the  stone-work,  and  9s.  for  rails,  exclusive  of  gates  and  gardeners'  work. 


310  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

and  the  interior  is  in  the  course  of  preparation  for  the 
reception  of  shrubs  and  pleasure-ground  decorations ; 
so  that  these  things,  together  with  the  tasty  manner 
in  which  the  stone-jug  or  bridewell,  which  stands 
in  the  centre,  has  been  lately  embellished,  greatly 
ornament  this  part  of  the  township.  The  bridewell  is 
a  mere  stone-jug  or  watch-box,  a  diminutive  building, 
and,  as  regards  its  interior,  a  dark,  damp  strong-hold, 
for  the  temporary  reception  and  incarceration  of  the 
unruly,  the  vicious,  and  the  criminal,  that  is,  until 
a  magistrate's  committal  consigns  such  unfortunate 
human  beings  to  a  more  fit  and  congenial  place  of 
confinement.  This  apology  for  a  bridewell  ought  to 
be  taken  down — it  is  a  discredit  to  the  community, 
whose  good  taste  and  liberal  views,  in  most  cases, 
lead  them  to  do  what  is  proper  and  needful ;  a  trifle 
assessed  on  the  annual  value  of  each  one's  property 
would  serve  to  erect,  on  a  small  scale,  a  suit  of 
buildings  on  this  eligible  spot.  The  place  would  be 
highly  convenient  for  the  purpose ;  and  the  buildings 
ought  to  be  sufficiently  spacious  for  Everton's  parochial 
and  constabulary  affairs  to  be  conducted  therein.  But  it 
would  only  cost  what  might  be  termed  a  bagatelle,  so 
far  as  regards  the  wealthy  settlers  and  land-owners  of 
Everton,  were  they  to  erect  a  handsome  and  spacious 
suit  of  buildings,  which  should  comprise  a  set  of 
offices  for  the  high-constable  and  tax-collector;  a 
secure,  convenient,  and  decent  jail  or  bridewell; 
and  a  good  sized  apartment,  capable  of  containing 
the  inhabitants  of  the  township,  whenever  they 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  311 

might  be  convened  together,  to  deliberate  on  public 
affairs.  At  present  this  appeal,  or  recommen- 
dation, may  be  disregarded  and  inefficient,  but,  as 
the  poet  says,  though  in  a  different  sense,  "  to  this, 
good  people,  ye  must  come  at  last;"  for  awhile  the 
convenience  of  Kirkdale  jail  may  delay  the  execu- 
tion of  the  plan,  but,  of  a  certainty,  it  is  destined  at 
some  time  or  other  to  be  done. 

A  vague  rumour  has  latterly  arisen  touching  this 
spot  of  land,  locality  61,  a;  it  has  been  indirectly 
and  distantly  hinted,  that  it  was  given  to  the  town- 
ship on  a  condition,  viz.,  that  a  church  should  be 
built  thereon,  but  there  is  no  evidence  in  the  archives 
and 'public  documents  of  the  township  which  leads  to 
such  a  conclusion;  on  the  contrary,  on  consulting 
the  town's  book,  it  appears  that  on  the  18th  April, 
1770,  Mr.  Seacome  sold  this  land,  with  a  barn  that 
stood  on  it,  to  the  township  for  £20 ;  but  there  is  no 
stipulation  made  in  the  deed  of  transfer  that  a  church 
should  be  built  thereon,  nor  does  the  word  church 
appear  in  any  part  of  the  transaction.* 

From  what  in  the  old  map  is  called  "  Prison-yard," 
it  may  be  as  well  to  cross  the  broad  road,  called  Brow- 

*  John  Lyon,  who  is  one  of  our  oldest  living  Evertonians,  most 
positively  bears  evidence,  and  asserts,  that  the  "  Barn  on  the  Hill," 
formerly  the  property  of  the  late  Mr.  J.  Seacome,  was  rented  for  a 
number  of  years,  by  the  father  of  the  said  John  Lyon ;  and  that  the  said 
Barn  on  the  Hill  stood  near  to  the  present  bridewell  or  stone-jug 
of  Everton ;  and  that  the  land  round  it  is  the  same  which  is  now  enclosed 
with  walls  and  rails ;  and  moreover,  that  he  himself,  when  a  young  lad, 
assisted  to  pull  down  the  said  Barn,  which  was  an  old  building  of 
stone  and  clay,  and  thatched.  I2t h  October,  1829. 


312  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

side,  to  localities  36,  a,  36,  b,  and  36,  c,  which  on 
their  south  sides  are  bounded  by  Rupert-lane;  in- 
deed they  form  the  entire  length  of  the  north  side  of 
that  lane.  In  the  year  1 790,  all  these  lots  were  the 
property  of  the  late  William  Harper,  Esq.,  who  pur- 
chased them  piece-meal,  and  at  length  consolidated 
them  into  one  extensive  and  truly  delightful  villa; 
such  it  still  remains,  diminished  only  by  a  separation 
(as  to  ownery)  from  the  eastern  parts. 

Mr.  Harper  erected  the  mansion,  which  graces 
this  charming  spot,  which  he  highly  embellished  in 
various  ways,  at  such  a  considerable  expense,  that  if  it 
were  stated,  it  would  scarcely  be  credited ;  in  extent 
of  valuable  ground,  and  delightfulness  of  situation,  it 
stands  almost  unrivalled  at  Everton :  this  extensive 
and  beautiful  villa,  except  the  easternmost  parts,  as 
before  noticed,  is  now  the  property  of  Charles  Shand, 
Esq.,  a  merchant  of  the  very  first  grade  in  Liverpool, 
who  is  much  respected  and  esteemed  by  the  whole 
community  of  Everton,  and  one  who  never  hesitates 
to  step  forward  when  the  need,  or  the  seeming  need, 
of  the  township's  interests  demand  his  service  :  but  to 
the  annals  of  Liverpool  belong  the  biographical 
notices  of  Mr.  Shand,  as  well  as  of  a  great  majority  of 
the  merchants  of  that  vast  trading  town,  who  now 
reside,  or  have  heretofore  resided,  at  Everton.  Mr. 
Shand  has  long  resided  at  this  his  delightful  villa. 

Locality  36,  b,  is  the  spot  where  an  old  cottage 
stood,  which  was  once  the  dwelling  of  Lecturer  Har- 
rison, as  is  noticed  in  the  section  of  Antiquities :  Mr. 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  313 

Harper  took  that  cottage  down,  and  formed  a  complete 
stabling  establishment  on  its  site  and  adjacent  grounds : 
but  those  stables,  &c.,  about  eighteen  years  ago,  were 
converted  into  a  very  respectable,  genteel,  and  even 
elegant  place  of  residence,  by  their  present  proprietpr, 
Joseph  Pilkington  Brandreth,  of  Liverpool,  M.  D., 
who  was,  until  very  lately,  the  proprietor  also  of  the 
adjoining  lot,  36,  c,  on  which  the  late  Mr.  Harper 
erected  an  excellent  dwelling  for  the  use  and  comfort 
of  his  parents  in  their  latter  days.  This  last  named 
dwelling  has  been  for  some  years  past,  and  until  very 
recently,  a  seminary  for  young  ladies,  which  was 
conducted  by  the  Misses  Paisley.  The  present  pro- 
prietor of  locality  36,  b,  is  son  to  the  late  celebrated 
Dr.  Brandreth,  who  for  many  years  stood  at  the  head 
of  the  list  of  Liverpool  physicians ;  the  present  Dr. 
Brandreth  sedulously  aims  to  acquire  his  late  father's 
celebrity,  which,  if  he  attain,  the  greater  merit  will 
be  his,  for  emulation  must  be  his  chief  impulse, 
fortune  having  highly  favoured  him  in  pecuniary 
matters :  he  married  the  youngest  daughter  of  the 
late  William  Harper,  Esq.  Previous  to  the  year 
1787,  Rupert-lane  (now  so  called)  was  a  slovenly, 
sandy  road,  ill  fenced,  and  deeply  cart-rutted,  with 
many  other  dangerous  hollows  on  its  surface;  and 
for  a  great  number  of  years  a  pinfold,*  of  rude 
construction,  but  in  perfect  keeping  with  the  road 
itself,  had  stood  on  the  north  side  of  the  lane,  near 

*  See  a  minute  made   in  the  town's  books  in  the  year  1764,   and 
another  minute  made  in  the  year  1787. 


314  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

to,  if  not  precisely  on,  the  spot  where  the  main 
entrance  gates  to  the  villa  of  Charles  Shand,  Esq. 
are  now  placed. 

In  the  year  1787,  the  late  W.  Harper,  Esq.  pro- 
jected and  carried  to  completion  the  improvement  of 
Rupert-lane ;  in  a  short  space  of  time  he  transformed 
it  into  very  nearly  what  it  is  now,  a  good,  hold,  safe, 
and  useful  road.  When  it  was  contemplated  to 
improve  this  road,  loud  were  the  murmurings,  and 
strong  the  opposition,  of  the  old  nobles  of  Everton ; 
their  arguments  against  the  proposed  undertaking, 
however,  seldom  went  farther  than  such  expressions 
as  the  following;  "they  would  na'  be  fashed  with 
new-fangled  notions  and  foolish  plans ; "  but  it  is 
probable  their  real  objections  were  grounded  on  the 
contemplated  expenditure  of  near  two  hundred  pounds 
on  so  short  a  length  of  road.  Mr.  Harper,  however, 
proceeded  in  his  undertaking;  he  advanced  most  of 
the  money  required,  and,  in  some  degree  on  his  own 
responsibility,  perfected  the  improvement.  In  the 
course  of  time,  the  discontented  perceived  the  advan- 
tages achieved,  and  Mr.  Harper  was  repaid  his  outlay, 
but  whether  with  or  without  thanks,  tradition  doth  not 
say.  It  might  have  been  fortunate  for  Everton,  had 
Mr.  Harper  considered  the  township  a  field  wide 
enough  in  which  to  exercise  his  enterprising  spirit; 
but  the  neighbouring  town  of  Liverpool  presented  to 
his  view  more  tempting  allurements — higher,  and 
every  way  more  extensive  scope  for  his  aims.  In 
Everton  he  knew  that  the  directors  of  its  affairs  were, 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  315 

and  long  had  been,  deeply  entrenched  in  old  habits 
and  parsimonious  measures;  they  also  conducted  their 
public  and  private  affairs  by  codes,  and  rules,  and 
customs  of  almost  antideluvian  date;  under  which 
pristine  kind  of  government,  Everton  might  have 
continued  even  to  the  present  day,  had  not  bolder  and 
more  enlightened  men  settled  in  the  township — men, 
by  whose  liberal  and  energetic  measures,  the  anciently 
slovenly  outside  of  Everton  has  been  polished  into 
neatness  and  beauty,  and  the  township's  municipal 
matters  placed  on  a  respectable  footing,  and  conducted 
with  precision  and  propriety. 

Mr.  Harper  soared  higher — he  sought  and  obtained 
the  most  eminent  civic  honours  in  Liverpool ;  and, 
having  accumulated  great  wealth  in  commercial  pur- 
suits, retired  to  spend  the  evening  of  his  life,  in  the 
way  most  commercial  men  anticipate  will  be  their  lot, 
that  is,  in  sylvan  abodes.  With  the  enjoyments  and 
employments  of  a  rural  life,  on  a  noble  estate  in  the 
county  of  Chester,  he  passed  the  last  years  of  his  life, 
and  died  there  on  the  9th  December,  1815. 

There  is  another  triangular-shaped  patch  of  land  in 
Everton,  considerably  larger  than  that  on  which  the 
bridewell  stands,  the  south  and  the  east  fronts  of 
which  form  one  half  of  what  is  named  the  village  ; 
while  the  other,  or  north  front,  forms  the  south  side 
of  Rupert-lane;  at  the  south-west  corner  of  this 
land  stands  a  building,  which  for  more  than  half  a 
century  has  been  the  coffee-house  of  Everton:  the 
locality  is  marked  11,  a,  on  the  map.  In  the  year 


316  .  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

1 790,  and  long  previous  to  that  epoch,  this  place  was 
the  property,  as  it  is  still,  of  the  Golightly  family — a 
family  of  old  standing,  and  high  respectability,  in 
Liverpool.  This  house  must  have  been  first  licensed 
about  the"^  year  1770;  it  would  appear  that  one 
Anthony  Spencer  was  nearly  the  first,  if  not  the  very 
first  publican,  that  carried  on  business  at  the  place. 
Since  Spencer's  time  several  have  occupied  the 
house;  one  Ritson  followed  Spencer,  and  after  Rit- 
son,  the  house  was  kept  by  a  person  named  Hoyle, 
who  was  drowned  in  the  Leeds  canal.  After  Mr. 
Hoyle,  came  Mr.  John  Hogg,  a  person  perfectly  in 
the  recollection  of  many  now  living  at  Everton;  and 
Mr.  Hogg's  successor  is  the  present  host  of  the 
coffee-house,  Mr.  William  Halliday,  who  entered  upon 
the  establishment  in  the  year  1803.  It  is  due  to  Mr. 
Halliday  to  state,  that  he  is  assiduous  to  please, 
correct  and  orderly  in  his  conduct,  unobtrusive  in  his 
manners,  and  moderate  in  his  charges  :  all  which  is 
fully  proved  by  his  twenty-six  years'  creditable  ma- 
nagement of  the  concern.  It  is  at  this  house  that  the 
public  affairs  of  the  township  have  been  long,  and 
still  are  transacted.  In  former  days  the  accommoda- 
tion of  the  house  was  sufficient  for  the  uses  and 
purposes  of  the  inhabitants,  but  the  day  will  very 
soon  arrive,  if  it  has  not  already  arrived,  when 
Everton  will  require  a  more  extensive  and  commo- 
dious place  for  the  transaction  of  its  public  affairs  in 
a  becoming  and  efficient  manner.  X?1"1 

The  prospect  in  the  north-west  of  the  coffee  house 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  317 

is  truly  delightful ;  and  in  fine  weather,  on  Sundays 
and  holidays,  the  place  is  generally  crowded.  Of  late 
years,  however,  the  steam-vessels  have  earned  to 
Cheshire  much  of  the  company  which  otherwise  would 
have  visited  this  once  favourite  place  of  resort. 

The  locality,  on  the  east,  adjoining  the  coffee-house, 
and  marked  15,  p,  on  the  map,  has  two  fronts,  the  one 
to  the  village,  and  the  other  to  Rupert-lane.  In  the 
year  1790,  it  was  possessed  by  John  Rowe,  Esq.  and 
others,  hut  is  now  parcelled  into  many  properties, 
and  nearly  covered  with  various  handsome  buildings, 
which  have  attached  to  them  gardens,  courts,  and 
pleasure-grounds,  on  a  small  scale.  On  the  south 
part  of  this  locality  there  are  also  a  builder's  workshop, 
timber-yard,  and  joiner's  establishment.  The  north 
front  of  this  locality  opened  into  what  is  now  called 
Rupert-lane ;  and  on  this  lot,  exactly  opposite  to  the 
old  pinfold,  formerly  stood  the  town-smithy,  in  the 
rear  of  which  was  the  smith's  house,  a  better  sort  of 
cottage,  together  with,  on  its  south  side,  a  little  spot 
of  garden-ground ;  the  smith's  premises  occupied  the 
space  or  site  where  three  very  handsome  dwelling- 
houses  now  stand,  named  Rupert-place,  the  first  of 
which  was  erected  by  Mr.  John  Me  George,  in  the 
years  1811—12. 

This  smithy  was  taken  down  in  the  year  1810;  it 
was  a  place,  however,  as  deserving  of  note  and  record 
as  was  that  of  Shakspeare ;  the  news  canvassed  and 
disseminated  at  the  Everton  smithy,  was  of  a  higher 
and  more  valuable  cast  than  is  commonly  gossiped  at 


318  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

such  places;  for,  during  the  times  here  alluded  to, 
the  smith  of  Everton,  (the  late  worthy  and  wealthy 
Mr.  George  Mercer,)  being  gifted  with  a  talent,  or 
instinct,  of  distinguishing  and  identifying  vessels  at  a 
great  distance,  drew  about  him  all  the  upper  classes 
of  Everton,  who  were  interested  in  marine  affairs ;  for 
vessels  that  he  had  once  seen  he  scarcely  ever  after 
failed  to  recognise,  whenever  they  came  again  within 
the  range  of  his  almost  magical  telescope. 

It  was  the  custom  of  the  merchants  of  Everton,  and 
also  of  many  people  of  Liverpool,  interested  in  ship- 
ping, to  repair  unto,  and  consult  with,  the  intelligent 
smith  of  Everton,  who  very  frequently  put  to  shame 
the  vigilance  and  ability  of  the  superintendent  of 
Bidston  light-house.  At  length,  on  a  spot  of  ground 
a  few  yards  distant,  on  the  west,  from  his  smithy,  an 
observatory  was  built,  where,  when  the  tide  served, 
the  worthy  smith  would  take  his  station  of  survey, 
and  cheerfully  give — for  he  was  good-nature  per- 
sonified— information  to  all  who  sought  it  at  his  hands, 
or,  to  state  more  truly,  at  his  eyes. 

Mr.  Mercer's  friends  became  numerous,  and  their 
proposals  to  amend  his  prospects  in  life  seemed  sin- 
cere and  staunch,  in  consequence  of  which,  he  com- 
menced business  as  an  ironmonger  and  smith,  in 
Liverpool,  and  in  a  very  few  years  accumulated  a 
handsome  fortune,  with  which  he  retired  to  a  rural 
spot  in  Kirkdale,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of 
his  days  in  ease  and  comfort ;  he  died  on  the  24th 
November,  1819,  aged  65  years. 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  319 

Thomas  Lowrie,  Esq.,  a  banker  of  Liverpool,  erected 
a  very  handsome  house  at  the  north-east  part  of  loca- 
lity 16,  b,  where  he  resides.  This  lot  has  also  two 
similar  fronts  with  the  locality  15,  p  ;  and  more  re- 
cently, Mr.  Lowrie  took  down  an  old  barn,  which 
stood  a  few  yards  on  the  west  of  his  own  residence,  on 
which  site  he  has  built  a  commodious  and  genteel 
dwelling-house,  with  its  front  to  Rupert-lane. 

It  was  in  Rupert-lane,  nearly  opposite  to  Mr. 
Lowrie' s  house,  that,  on  the  night  of  the  25th  April, 
1818,  a  desperate  and  sanguinary  conflict  took  place 
between  two  robbers,  and  a  man  whom  they  had  robbed 
on  the  highway  at  the  Breck ;  the  man,  it  seems,  kept 
sight  of  them  until  he  procured  the  assistance  of 
another  person ;  but  on  attempting  to  secure  the  high- 
waymen, the  individual  who  had  been  robbed  was  des- 
perately wounded  with  a  shoemaker's  knife,  and  left 
for  dead  on  the  road ; — the  robbers  were  subsequently 
taken,  tried,  and  transported. 

Returning  to  locality  15,  p,  on  its  south  part,  front- 
ing the  village,  resides,  at  a  handsome  house,  erected 
in  the  year  1811,  by  Mr.  Me  George,  a  very  worthy 
and  excellent  lady,  whose  name  is  Topping,  sister  to 
the  late  William  Harper,  Esq.,  and  a  branch,  or  de- 
scendant, of  a  very  ancient  Everton  family,  her  mother 
having  been  the  sister  of  the  late  John  Pyke,  Esq. 
There  have  been  many  instances  of  longevity  at 
Everton;  among  others  may  be  named  that  of  the  late 
much  respected  Mrs.  Harper,  mother  to  Mrs.  Topping, 


320  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

who  died  6th  September,  1819,  aged  96  years,  having 
lived  to  the  days  of  her  great  great  grandchildren. 

The  next  dwelling  in  the  village  on  the  east  of  Mrs. 
Topping's,  is  a  place  of  high  repute  and  consideration 
with  all  holiday-folk,  and  lovers  of  sweets,  the  property 
and  residence  of  Mr.  Robert  Sandiford,  son-in-law 
and  successor  to  Mrs.  Mary  Bushell,  the  first  inventor 
of  Everton  toffy;  of  the  invention  and  progress  to  cele- 
brity of  this  article,  more  will  shortly  be  stated. 

Adjoining  Mr.  Sandiford' s,  on  the  east,  are  the  late 
dwelling,  workshop,  and  timber-yard  of  Mr.  John  Me 
George,  who  built  this  house,  and  established  his 
works  here,  in  the  year  1807;  but  he  has  recently 
quitted  the  place,  to  reside  in  John-street,  on  the  north 
boundary  of  Everton.  These  three  last-named  pro- 
perties form  the  greater  part  of  the  south  front  of  loca- 
lity 15,  p.  Of  Mr.  Me  George,  much  might  be  said ; 
but  the  object  must  be  to  compress  multum  into  parvo. 

Mr.  Me  George  settled  in  the  township  in  the  year 
1804,  and  has  exemplified  and  proved  the  force  and 
truth  of  that  good  old  adage,  which  tells  us,  "  Civility 
is  never  cast  away ; "  his  habits  are  industrious,  his 
talent  good,  and  his  efforts  have  been  successful ;  there 
is  little  doubt,  therefore,  of  his  ultimately  retiring  from 
the  cares  of  business  with  a  good  name,  and  a  heavy 
purse.  Mr.  Me  George  has  a  turn  for  antiquarian 
studies,  but  there  is  no  field  at  Everton  wherein  such 
pursuits  could  be  advantageously  followed :  his  efforts, 
in  many  places,  have  much  embellished  the  townsliip, 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS. 

and  his  public  and  private  conduct  has  been  exem- 
plary. It  will  be  well,  therefore,  for  all  industrious 
persons  who  may  hereafter  settle  in  the  township, 
to  follow  in  his  footsteps. 

It  must  not  be  omitted  to  state  here,  that  formerly 
a  style-road  ran  across  this  locality,  15,  p,  from  near 
to  where  the  pump  stands  in  the  village,  to  the  smithy, 
which  stood  in  what  is  now  called  Rupert-lane ;  this 
style-road  benefited  the  township  little  if  any  thing 
more  than  that  it  afforded  a  ready  access  from  the 
village  to  the  smithy.  When  the  latter  was  removed, 
this  private  road  became  valueless;  and  moreover, 
as  the  whole  land  through  and  over  which  the  style>- 
road  ran,  including  the  smithy,  were  one  property,  it 
might  be  deemed  only  a  back  road  to  that  place,  as  it 
was  in  reality  on  sufferance,  formed  and  tolerated, 
perhaps,  by  the  tenants  of  the  smithy  for  the  accom- 
modation of  its  customers.* 

The  next  lot  in  the  village  on  the  east  of  Mr.  Me 
George's  premises,  is  the  south  part  of  locality  16,  b, 
on  which  stood  an  old  cottage,  which  has  been  already 
noticed  in  the  section  of  Antiquities;  this  cottage, 
for  many  years,  and  nearly  to  the  time  of  its  being 
demolished,  was  tenanted  by  Mr.  John  Lyon,  who 


*  There  is  little  probability  of  this  road  being  ever  claimed  by  the  pub- 
lic, but  should  such  a  measure  be  attempted,  the  compiler  of  this  treatise 
ventures  to  assert,  that  the  public  would  lose  the  object  in  view,  it  being 
now  upwards  of  fifty  years  since  the  writer  of  this  note  first  knew  the 
style-road  in  question,  and  then,  as  well  as  ever  since,  that  path  was 
always  known  to  be  called,  and  considered,  a  back  or  private  way  to  the 
smithy. 


322  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

was  for  some  time  high  constable  of  Everton,  and 
nominal  factotum  of  the  township's  executive  affairs ; 
he  was  a  farmer  and  dairy-man,  on  whom  fortune 
frowned,  and  having  never  diligently  attended  to 
scholastic  studies,  he  was  superseded  in  his  offices  by 
men  better  versed  in  clerkship  lore,  and  is  now  obliged 
to  toil  constantly  and  hard ;  but  in  all  likelihood,  had 
he  been  somewhat  better  schooled  in  his  early  years, 
he,  even  now,  had  been  acting  the  parts  of  high 
constable,  tax  collector,  &c.  &c.  of  the  township  of 
Everton. 

The  dairy  establishment  was  modernized  and  con- 
ducted, after  Mr.  Lyon's  abdication,  by  Mr.  Richard 
Naylor,  who  purchased  the  concern,  and  the  copyhold 
also.  Mr.  Naylor  took  down  the  old  cottage,  and  on 
its  site  erected  a  snug  convenient  dwelling,  and  the 
needful  offices  for  an  extensive  dairy  establishment; 
he  has,  however,  recently  transferred  the  management 
of  the  concern  to  other  hands,  having  retired  to  more 
congenial  employment.  There  is  a  well  in  the  public 
road,  near  to  Mr.  Naylor' s  property,  a  few  yards  west 
of  the  house  door :  it  appears,  by  a  minute  inserted  in 
the  town's  book,  that  a  pump  was  put  down  into  this 
well  in  the  year  1815 ;  prior  to  that  period,  the  public 
drew  water  from  it  by  means  of  a  bucket,  and  various 
times  and  oft  are  charges  made  in  the  township's 
accounts,  for  "new  buckets,"  and  for  "mending 
buckets ;  "  the  putting  down  of  this  pump,  therefore, 
may  eventually  prove  a  measure  of  economy  and  con- 
venience. 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  323 

The  next  locality,  on  the  east,  to  Mr.  Naylor's  pre- 
mises, is  55,  a,  which  has  been  for  a  great  length  of 
time  the  property  of  an  ancient  Everton  family,  whose 
sirname  is  Anderton.  Many  individuals  of  this  family 
have,  for  a  long  series  of  years,  figured,  in  their  own 
plain  way,  in  the  annals  of  the  township,  one  of  whom 
served  the  offices  of  high  constable,  &c.  of  Everton 
for  thirty-seven  consecutive  years  ;  nor  is  it  very  long 
since  they  quitted  Everton  as  a  place  of  residence: 
it  is  said,  indeed,  that  only  one  of  this  family  is  now 
living  that  bears  the  name  of  Anderton,  and  he  not  a 
sojourner  in  the  local  land  of  his  fathers.  Merely  to 
exhibit  how  moderate  the  charges  of  lodgings  were  at 
Everton  in  olden  time,  it  is  stated  here,  that  R.  P. 
Buddicom,  Esq.,  father  to  the  worthy  clergyman  of 
this  place,  had  a  furnished  parlour,  and  an  excellent 
bed-room,  at  this  mansion  of  the  Anderton's,  in  the 
year  1770,  at  the  rate  of  2s.  6d.  per  week.  One  of 
the  last  of  the  Andertons  followed  the  trade  of  a 
wheelwright  on  these  premises.  The  old  buildings, 
which  are  still  standing  on  this  locality,  are  noticed 
in  the  section  of  Antiquities. 

On  this  property  of  the  Anderton's,  and  nearly 
opposite  to  the  ancient  cross,  which  stood  midway  in 
the  public  road,  long  dwelt  Mrs.  Mary,  or  as  she  was 
always  styled,  Molly  Bushell.  Mrs.  Bushell  was  the 
original  manufacturer  of  Everton  toffy — an  article  too 
well  known,  and  too  highly  appreciated,  to  need  com- 
ment, elucidation,  or  eulogy  here.  It  is  said,  that  this 
esteemed  article  owed  its  origin  to  a  kind-hearted 


324  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

medical  gentleman  of  Liverpool,  who  ranked  high  in 
his  profession ;  this  gentleman  visited  Mrs.  Bushell 
professionally,  and  noticing  that  her  industrious  and 
laudable  exertions  to  provide  for  the  wants  of  her 
family  were  harely  rewarded  with  a  sufficiency,  sug- 
gested to  her  the  idea  of  making  an  experiment  in 
fabricating  and  keeping  this  toffy  for  sale,  and  the 
worthy  doctor  gave  her  a  recipe  for  the  composition 
of  this  delicious  compound; — would  that  all  recipes 
were  as  innocently  and  pleasantly  compounded!  By 
adhering  to  the  formula  .of  that  recipe,  Mrs.  Bushell  ac- 
quired her  great  name;  and  also  thus,  secundum  artem, 
did  she  administer  to  coughs,  colds,  sore  throats,  &c. 
— the  medicine  proving  not  only  palateable  to  the  ail- 
ing, but  to  the  convalescent  also,  and  even  to  those  of 
"constitution  sound  and  strong,"  all  degrees  of  per- 
sons flocked  to  Mrs.  Bushell's  laboratory,  to  taste  and 
to  try  the  efficacy  of  the  most  celebrated  and  admired, 
if  not  the  most  serviceable,  prescription  the  good  doctor 
ever  wrote.  So  eulogised  is  this  toffy,  that  strangers 
seldom  visit  Everton  and  its  vicinity  without  taking  a 
quantity  of  it  with  them  on  their  return  homeward. 
A  son  of  Mrs.  Bushell's  (John),  now  grown  old,  still 
dwells  in  the  township,  and  loves  to  linger  among  the 
haunts  of  his  young  and  happy  days ;  he  is  a  harm- 
less individual,  and  familiarly  known  to  every  inmate 
of  the  village  as  "old  Johnny  Bushell."  The  old 
buildings  on  the  premises  of  the  Andertons  have  been 
already  noticed ;  at  the  front  of  those  old  buildings 
there  were  benches  fixed,  on  which,  in  fine  weather, 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  325 

the  ancient  nobles  of  Everton  delighted  to  assemble, 
and  to  converse  on  foreign  and  domestic  affairs ;  in 
summer  time,  this  spot  might  have  been  styled  the 
evening  Rialto  of  Everton  :  nor  was  it  always  occupied 
by  the  sage  and  the  hoary,  for  it  was  a  rendezvous  for 
the  young,  where  they  assembled  to  make  merry  at 
the  cross,  which  stood  exactly  opposite  the  residence 
of  the  Andertons.  How  altered  is  the  scene  now !  the 
cross  has  been  removed,  the  favourite  benches  of  the 
lords  of  Everton' s  soil  are  neglected  and  deserted — 
the  modern  nobles  of  Everton  being  fonder  of  reposing 
their  limbs  on  cushioned  chairs  and  costly  couches,  in 
the  perfumed  air  of  crowded  rooms,  than  to  enjoy  the 
healthy,  wholesome  air  of  early  evening,  in  the  friendly, 
humble  manner  of  the  ancient  possessors  of  the  soil. 
The  property  of  the  Andertons  has  also  two  fronts, 
but  on  the  north,  or  that  part  fronting  to  Rupert-lane, 
there  are  not  any  buildings  as  yet  erected. 

On  the  east,  adjoining  the  property  of  the  Anderton 
family,  lies  locality  20,  b,  which  in  the  year  1790 
was,  and  previous  to  that  period,  from  time  immemo- 
rial, had  been,  the  property  and  place  of  residence  of 
another  very  ancient  Everton  family,  named  Rice.* 
The  Rices  were  long  extensive  proprietors  of  Ever- 
ton's soil;  and  some  considerable  and  valuable  lots 
of  Everton  land  were  left  to  his  grandchildren  by  the 
last  of  that  family  bearing  the  name  of  Rice :  the 

*  In  the  year  1 790,  there  was  a  plot  of  ground,  with  houses  thereon,  at 
the  top  of  Everton-brow,  owned  by  another  family  of  the  name  of  Rice ; 
these  latter-named  Rices  resided  at  Bootle. 


326  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

name,  however,  is  now  extinct  in  the  township,  and 
the  property  has  descended  to  relatives  of  other  names, 
one  of  whom,  Mr.  Edmund  Mawdsley,  the  grandson 
of  the  late  Mr.  E.  Rice,  has  heen  already  mentioned 
in  the  section  of  the  south  district,  where  he  resides ; 
and  he,  together  witli  one  or  two  cousins,  of  the  name 
of  Dale,  inherited  all  the  remaining  Everton  posses- 
sions of  the  Rices  of  Everton. 

The  southern  part  of  locality  20,  b,  which  is  much 
the  greater,  is  now  the  property  of  the  family  of  the 
late  Rev.  Johnson  Tatlock,  where  his  worthy  widow 
now  resides.  The  son  and  only  child  of  the  late 
Rev.  Johnson  Tatlock  is  heir  to  much  valuable 
property  in  Everton.  This  residence  was  greatly 
improved,  embellished,  and  modernized,  about  twenty 
years  ago,  for  the  occupation  of  Mrs.  Gregson,  the 
widow  of  the  late  John  Gregson,  Esq.,  formerly  a 
banker  of  Liverpool,  and  who  long  resided  at  an  excel- 
lent villa,  in  the  south-west  district.  This  domicile  of 
the  Rices,  which  was  originally  a  better  kind  of  farm- 
house, with  out-offices  attached,  was,  at  the  time 
above  stated,  transformed  into  an  elegant  place,  so  far 
as  regards  its  interior,  thus  strongly  exhibiting  Mrs. 
Gregson's  superior  taste  and  tact  in  the  economy  and 
arrangement  of  a  genteel  residence.  It  may  not  be 
omitted  to  remark  here,  that  this  and  the  adjacent 
spots  have  every  appearance  of  having  been  the  first 
settled  parts  of  the  township;  the  seed,  germ,  or 
origin  of  the  village  of  Everton.  On  the  north  part 
of  locality  20,  b,  are  a  few  small-sized  houses,  of 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  327 

modern  erection;  at  the  largest  of  these,  a  neat 
compact  building,  which  fronts  to  Everton-village, 
resides  a  personage,  who  must  not  pass  unnoticed  in 
these  annals.  At  this  place  Mr.  William  Shaw 
dwells,  who  may  be  styled  Everton's  executive,  for 
the  onus,  or,  in  humbler  language,  the  weight  and 
practical  execution,  of  all  its  public  business  rests  with 
him;  who  most  certainly  performs  the  multifarious 
and  complicated  duties  of  his  offices  to  the  satisfaction 
of  the  entire  community.  Mr.  Shaw  seems  to  be 
possessed  of  physical  and  mental  capacities  commen- 
surate to  the  business  he  has  to  accomplish ;  he  is 
active,  vigilant,  prompt,  and  clear-sighted;  he  has 
a  skill  too  in  clerkship,  that  might  put  to  the  blush 
many  a  better-paid  public  functionary :  he  has  the 
routine  of  the  town's  affairs  at  his  fingers  end;  and 
were  it  not  for  form's  sake,  there  would  be  little  need 
to  convene  more  than  one  periodical  public  meeting 
for  local-legislature  and  municipal  purposes;  at  all 
such  meetings,  however,  Mr.  Shaw's  intelligence  is 
conspicuous  and  serviceable,  yet  always  given  in  an 
unobtrusive  manner.  It  must  not  be  omitted  to  ac- 
knowledge that  much  matter  in  these  pages  has  been 
obtained  through  the  instrumentality  of  Mr.  Shaw. 

In  the  section  of  Antiquities,  notice  has  been 
already  taken  of  the  old  house  which  stands  a  few 
yards  on  the  north  of  Mr.  Shaw's  dwelling;  that 
ancient  domicile  is  still  the  home  of  the  lowly  in  life ; 
it  is  tenanted  by  a  gardener,  who  is  well-known 
throughout  the  township  as  a  hard-working  man, 


328  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

would  that  it  could  be  added,  a  temperate  one.  In 
the  year  1815,  John  Pyke,  Esq.  erected  a  very 
good  family-house,  fronting  Rupert-lane,  at  the  north- 
west pail  of  this  locality  (19,  k).  In  the  year  1801, 
the  village  road  was  widened  and  improved,  by  draw- 
ing a  straight  line  along  the  east  part  of  this  locality, 
from  the  old  house  where  Charles  Stevenson  now  lives, 
to  the  north  extremity  of  the  village,  where  several 
roads  meet,  a  place  which  long  went  by  the  name  of 
the  "  Four-lane-ends. "  At  the  time  of  widening 
this  road,  an  old  building  was  taken  down,  which 
stood  opposite  to  the  west  front  of  locality  17,  m,  and 
served  for  a  barn,  or  such  like  purpose.  The  remain- 
ing part  of  the  centre  district  of  Everton  still  to  be 
delineated  is  principally  pastoral;  here  and  there, 
indeed,  are  some  detached  places  where  buildings 
have  been  erected,  and  very  recently  several  builders 
have  commenced  operations  somewhat  extensively  in 
this  quarter. 

At  the  four-lane-ends  a  melancholy  and  distressing 
accident  occurred,  on  the  27th  November,  1829 :  by 
us  short-sighted  mortals,  such  events  are  too  often 
regarded  as  unkind,  if  not  cruel,  visitations  of  provi- 
dence; but  this  is  not  the  case,  for  our  severest  trials 
are  useful  lessons,  to  ourselves  or  to  the  world.  He 
who  doth  not  disregard  the  "fall  of  a  sparrow,"  in 
His  wisdom  determines  the  length  of  man's  life;  some 
are  permitted  to  live  to  the  age  of  weakness  and 
decrepitude,  whilst  infants,  and  even  babes,  are 
doomed  to  be  smitten  by  death  in  the  earliest  stages 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  329 

of  their  existence ;  it  is  our  duty,  therefore,  resign- 
edly, and  even  thankfully,  to  bow  to  the  strokes 
that  God  inflicts,  for  his  ordinances  have  ever  been 
founded  in  wisdom  and  goodness.  The  following 
account  of  this  fatal  accident  is  copied  from  the  Albion. 
"  A  gig,  containing  a  gentleman  and  his  servant,  on 
turning  the  corner  where  a  foundation  for  a  new  house 
had  been  recently  dug,  about  four  feet  deep,  was 
precipitated  therein,  dragging  with  it  three  of  the 
lovely  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fleming,  of  Ever- 
ton-terrace.  One  fine  boy,  an  only  son,  was  killed 
on  the  spot,  a  sweet  girl  most  dangerously  hurt,  and 
the  third,  a  charming  little  girl,  seriously  injured. 
The  poor  children  were  looking  into  the  foundation 
from  that  side  of  the  causeway  furthest  from  the 
middle  of  the  road,  where  they  ought  to  have  been 
safe.  And  this  very  lamentable  accident  has  arisen 
from  driving,  perhaps  prematurely,  a  hard-mouthed, 
but  partially-broken  young  horse.  The  gentleman 
and  his  servant  escaped  with  little  injury,  but  the 
former  was  much  affected,  and  forthwith  despatched 
his  servant  for  medical  assistance,  appearing  fully  to 
appreciate  the  severity  of  the  affliction  which  he  had 
been  the  means  of  casually  bringing  upon  the  parents 
of  the  infant  sufferers." 

From  the  village,  along  the  left  of  the  road,  to 
locality  13,  b,  every  thing  remains  much  in  the 
same  state  as  it  was  in  the  year  1790,  with  the 
exception  of  some  few  houses  now  erecting  at  the 
west  end  of  locality  1 7,  c.  About  fifteen  years  ago, 


330  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

a  Mr.  Gillespie  formed  a  very  pretty  villa,  and  erected 
at  its  south  front  an  excellent  house,  on  locality  13,  b. 
In  summer  this  is  a  delightful  situation,  and  in  con- 
sequence of  several  houses  having  been  of  late  clus- 
tered together,  the  neighbourhood  has  become  safer 
and  pleasanter  in  winter;  there  seems,  indeed,  a 
disposition  to  create  a  populous  community  in  this 
quarter;  for  the  localities  13,  b,  and  13,  c,  in  par- 
ticular, promise  to  be  very  shortly  plentifully  studded 
with  the  domiciles  of  man.  Two  short  streets  are 
now  laid  out  in  locality  13,  c,  wherein  a  few  small- 
sized  houses  are  built ;  and  on  the  east  of  the  eastern- 
most street  is  the  pleasant  villa  of  Joseph  Fry,  Esq., 
who  has  erected  a  handsome  mansion  thereon,  at 
which  he  resides.  A  little  way  on  the  east  of  the  last 
named  is  a  very  pretty  villa,  the  property  of  the  heirs 
of  the  late  Mr.  Edward  Rogerson,  where  he  himself 
long  dwelt :  this  villa  stands  on  the  south-west  part 
of  locality  21,  d. 

The  late  Mr.,  or,  as  he  was  familiarly  called, 
"  Neddy  Rogerson,"  had  much  singularity  of  manner, 
but  "  take  him  for  all  in  all "  he  was  a  well  meaning, 
useful  member  of  society :  he  had  a  particular  habit 
of  larding  his  conversations  with  ejaculations,  such  as 
"Eh !  ah  !  O !  aye !  aye !  "  these  monosyllables  were 
constantly  slipping  off  his  tongue  ;  and  his  undevia- 
ting  mode  of  greeting  was  "  Ha'  dun  ye  ?  ha'  dun 
ye?"  which  was  spoken  with  an  emphasis  and 
a  raciness  of  style  that  never  failed  "  to  linger  long 
on  the  listener's  ear,"  and  as  seldom  failed  to  move, 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  331 

as  it  were,  galvanically,  the  risible  muscles  of  his 
auditors'  faces. 

Mr.  Rogerson's  reputation  stood  high  as  an  amateur 
M.  D.,  yet  not  exactly  so  either,  for  amateurs 
practise  without  looking  for  pecuniary  reward,  hut 
Mr.  Rogerson  both  took,  and  expected  a  fee.  The 
disease  he  professed  to  combat  was  the  jaundice,  or, 
as  he  called  it,  the  janders.  Many  sought  to  possess 
the  secret  of  Mr.  Rogerson's  panacea,  but  none  could 
discover  it;  many  said,  and  some  thought,  that  his 
cures  were  effected  by  incantation ;  be  that  as  it  may, 
cures  were  effected,  and  as  to  incantation,  it  is  most 
likely  it  had  its  origin  in  a  little  ruse  of  Mr.  Rogerson 
himself,  for  he  once  told  a  gentleman,  who  put  the 
question  to  him,  touching  his  treatment  of  patients, 
that  "he  cured  the  janders  mainly  by  magic." 
Cures,  however,  as  before  stated,  were  effected;  but 
after  all,  there  are  good  reasons  to  lead  to  the  belief, 
that  Mr.  Rogerson  was  only  the  sleeping  partner  of 
nature;  she  doing  all  the  work,  whilst  his  incanta- 
tions gave  to  patients  the  required  confidence  and  con- 
sequent patience.  Poor  nature !  many  a  regular  M.  D. 
treats  thee  not  a  jot  more  gratefully,  for  in  millions  of 
cases,  like  their  brother  Rogerson,  they  reap  both  the 
profit  and  the  credit  due  to  thy  works ! 

The  excellent  house  which  stands  on  this  south- 
west part  of  locality  21,  d,  was  erected  by  Mr. 
Rogerson,  who  died  suddenly  near  the  place,  on  the 
16th  June,  1814,  aged  82  years.  Adjoining  the  last- 
noticed  villa,  at  the  south-east  part  of  locality  21,  d, 


332  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

is  another  very  charming  residence,  called  the  "  Odd- 
house,"  which,  together  with  the  entire  locality,  was 
in  the  year  1790  the  property  of  the  Rogersons;  hut 
the  Odd-house  now  helongs  to  the  heirs  of  the  late 
Rev.  Henry  Barton,  whose  very  worthy  widow  was 
its  last  occupier;  and  at  this  villa  this  excellent 
gentleman  and  his  widow  died.  The  house  is  a 
compound  of  ancient  and  modern  architecture ;  the 
old  dwelling,  at  several  modern  periods,  having  heen 
aided  in  the  way  of  space  and  accommodation,  hy  the 
addition  of  adjunct  buildings.  This  place  was  called 
the  Odd-house  in  the  year  1 768,  as  may  he  observed 
on  examining  a  map  drawn  up  by  the  late  Messrs. 
Yates  and  Perry;  but  in  the  year  1716,  it  was 
called  Kenny  on' s-house,  as  appears  by  the  old  map 
in  the  town's  chest.  It  is  hinted  here  that,  a  little 
way  on  the  north  of  the  Odd-house  villa,  a  road 
might  be  very  advantageously  formed  to  run  west- 
wardly  into  Church-street,  near  to  the  east  end  of 
Priory-lane :  were  such  a  road  formed,  it  would  offer 
great  accommodation  to  church-goers  and  others 
from  the  Breck. 

From  the  Odd-house  in  Breck-lane  to  the  mere, 
along  the  whole  line  on  the  west  of  Hangfield-lane, 
there  is  only  one  dwelling,  and  that  is  a  diminutive, 
though  pretty  lodge-like  building,  standing  on  the 
narrow  neck  of  land  fronting  to  Hangfield-lane,  and 
forming  the  east  part  of  locality  22,  a,  which, 
with  the  exception  of  a  short  length  at  its  south  part, 
is  still  in  its  pristine,  pastoral  state;  most  certainly 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  333 

pastoral,  for  grass  grows  in  all  parts  of  it,  except 
where  men  and  cattle  tread,  and  the  wheels  of 
vehicles  occasionally  roll ;  but  for  about  one  hundred 
yards  in  length,  or  a  little  more,  the  south  end  of 
Hangfield-lane  is  paved,  and  on  the  east  side  a 
parapet  is  formed.  The  lodge  previously  alluded  to 
is  the  property  of  William  Perry,  Esq.,  and  serves  as 
an  outpost  of  protection  to  the  eastern  parts  of  his 
property,  no  other  dwelling  being  near  this  secluded 
habitation.  A  field's  breadth  distant  on  the  north  is 
the  mere,  which  has  been  noticed  in  the  early  part 
of  this  section. 

Across  the  road,  on  the  south-west  of  the  mere,  is 
locality  16,  f;  this  extensive  and  valuable  piece  of 
land  has  been  recently  sold  by  Seacome  Ellison,  Esq. 
to  Charles  Eyes,  Esq. ;  and  in  the  autumn  of  1829, 
the  architect  commenced  operations  on  this  lot,  where 
one  or  two  houses  are  already  nearly  run  up.  Great 
has  been  the  advance  in  the  value  of  lands  at  Everton, 
even  in  these  its  eastern  or  interior  parts ;  for,  in  the 
year  1724,  this  identical  piece  of  land  (locality  16,/), 
together  with  two  other  parcels  of  land  at  Everton, 
measuring  in  the  whole  4 A.  IR.  6p.,  of  which,  this 
lot,  16,  /,  was  BA.  OR.  22p.,  was  sold  for  £84  10s. ; 
and,  in  the  year  1828,  this  particular  portion  of  that 
sale  was  sold  for  about  three  thousand  pounds. 

Adjoining  the  last-named  property  is  locality  19,  i, 
or  Beacon-hey,  which,  in  the  year  1790,  was  one  large 
undivided  piece  of  land,  the  property  of  the  heirs  of 
the  late  Thomas  Heyes,  Esq. ;  the  land  of  this  locality 


334  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

is  now  subdivided  and  parcelled  out  amongst  several 
proprietors.  The  north  part  is  held  in  trust  by  Charles 
Okill,  Esq.,  and  others,  for  their  children,  who  are 

some  of  the  heirs  of  the  late Woodhouse,  Esq. 

Mr.  Okill  is  the  talented  secretary  to  the  committee 
of  the  corporate  body  of  Liverpool ;  he  resided  for 
some  time  at  Everton,  and  did  much  good  and  gra- 
tuitous service  to  the  township;  but  a  wider  and  a 
more  profitable  field  for  the  exercise  of  his  talents  and 
abilities  presented  itself  at  Liverpool;  and  he  has 
rendered  very  essential  service  to  the  authorities  of 
that  town,  of  which  they  have  given  many  proofs,  and 
have  often  declared  they  are  sensible. 

At  the  east  part  of  the  north  division  of  locality  19, 
i,  there  is  a  bowling-green ;  this  establishment  was 
formed  by  subscription  in  the  year  1822;  the  green 
is  spacious,  and  embellished  and  accommodated  with 
a  handsome  alcove,  in  which  are  convenient  sitting- 
rooms  for  the  subscribers ;  it  is  nearly  planted  round 
with  shrubs,  and,  on  the  whole,  has  a  pleasing  appear- 
ance. The  members  of  this  bowling-establishment 
are  most  respectable  persons  of  Everton,  Liverpool, 
and  other  neighbouring  places. 

The  remainder  of  this  north  division  of  locality  19, 
i,  lying  west  of  the  bowling-green,  is  in  the  occupa- 
tion of  Mr.  Alexander  Thompson,  who  has  converted 
that  portion  into  a  nursery  for  horticultural  purposes. 
Mr.  Thompson  was  high  constable  of  Everton  for 
some  years. 

The  centre  division  of  locality  19,  i,  is  a  large  patch 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  335 

of  pasture  land,  where,  through  the  medium  of  a  sJwrt 
pump,  a  top-spring  affords  an  excellent  supply  of  good 
water — top-springs  might  be  found  at  most  places 
hereabout,  by  penetrating  a  few  feet  below  the  surface 
of  the  soil.  The  substratum  here,  and  every  where 
in  this  part,  is  composed  of  the  reddish-coloured  rock 
already  noticed.  This  patch  of  pasture-ground  is  the 
property  of  John  Pyke,  Esq. 

On  the  south  of  Mr.  Pyke's  part  of  locality  19,  i, 
is  the  south  portion  of  Beacon-hey,  the  property  of 
William  Perry,  Esq.,  who  is  also  the  proprietor  of  the 
adjoining  large  piece  of  land,  marked  22,  #,  called 
Hungry-croft ;  at  the  west  part  of  which,  Mr.  Perry 
has  formed  a  delightful  villa,  and  about  twenty-five 
years  ago  erected  there  a  spacious,  commodious  man- 
sion, at  which  he  has  ever  since  resided,  for  the  prin- 
cipal part  of  each  year.  Mr.  Perry's  house  stands 
pleasantly  removed  from  the  noise  and  bustling  incon- 
veniences of  a  main  highway,  and,  by  a  good  private 
road,  is  accessible  from  Church-street.  Mr.  Perry  is 
a  surgeon,  and  has  long  stood  at  the  head  of  that  par- 
ticular part  or  branch  of  his  profession  known  by  the 
name  or  term  of  surgeon-dentist ;  his  business  is  con- 
ducted at  Liverpool,  where  by  talent,  assiduity,  and 
courtesy,  he  has  raised  himself  high  in  the  commu- 
nity's estimation,  and,  as  a  natural  consequence, 
fortune  has  favoured  him. 

The  locality  13,  a,  is  now  much  altered  on  its  west 
and  north-west  parts :  on  the  north-west  there  are 
two  small  residences,  and  also  a  large  house,  with 


336  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

grounds  attached;  at  the  latter,  Mr.  John  Coleman 
conducts  a  very  respectable  seminary.  With  excellent 
abilities,  this  gentleman  bent  his  attention,  at  an  early 
age,  to  acquire  the  requisite  knowledge  for  conducting 
an  extensive  and  respectable  academy,  and,  therefore, 
it  is  presumed,  he  must  have  commenced  his  present 
undertaking  with  the  necessary  qualifications.  Youth 
are  received  at  this  establishment  as  full-boarders, 
as  day-boarders,  and  as  day-pupils;  a  gymnasium 
makes  a  conspicuous  feature  in  the  scene,  from  the 
main-road,  being  fixed  in  the  play-ground  of  this 
seminary.  The  house  in  which  Mr.  Coleman  resides 
was  many  years  under  construction ;  the  builder  main- 
tains that  such  a  mode  of  seasoning  will  ensure  dura- 
bility, but  time  must  put  the  truth  or  fallacy  of  his 
axiom  to  the  test. 

About  the  year  1823,  James  Heyworth,  Esq.  built 
the  very  handsome  range  of  red  brick  stabling,  &c. 
which  now  stands  at  the  south-west  corner  of  locality 
13,  a,  fronting  to  Church-street ;  the  building  contains 
a  lodge,  and  in  its  rear  are  piggeries,  poultry-yards, 
&c.,  constructed  on  plans  as  admirable  as  they  are 
extensive  and  commodious. 

The  little  spot  on  the  map,  on  locality  27,  6,  oppo- 
site to  Mr.  Dyson's  lodge-gates,  across  the  road  on 
the  east,  marks  the  site  of  a  cottage,  or  rather  a  hut- 
tage,  which  stood  there  for  a  great  number  of  years. 
This  miserable  abode  of  man  has  been  razed  to  the 
ground ;  the  act  was  most  humane,  for  it  was  a  dark, 
dank,  damp,  and  rheumatic-fever-begetting  hovel ;  its 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  337 

roof  was  sieve-like,  its  floor  of  soft  clay,  at  all  times 
fit  for  the  potter's  use,  for  it  was  constantly  kept  moist 
with  rain,  that  was  constantly  dripping  through  the 
dilapidated  roof,  and  kept  properly  tempered  by  the 
incessant  trampling  of  the  barefooted  offspring  of  the 
poor  tenants.  So  miserably  necessitated  are  some  of 
our  fellow-creatures,  that  there  is  no  hovel,  however 
ruinous,  or  likely  to  produce  disease,  or  otherwise 
miserably  uncomfortable,  that  is  not  crept  into  and 
tenanted  by  human  beings,  who  with  patience  calcu- 
late to  endure,  or  with  patches  to  exclude,  the  pelting 
and  pitiless  storm. 

The  outbuildings,  consisting  of  coach-houses,  sta- 
blery,  barns,  &c.  now  standing  on  the  west  front  of 
locality  39,  b,  must  have  been  erected  some  short  time 
previous  to  the  year  1800,  by  the  late  William  Clarke, 
Esq.,  the  younger:  these  buildings  are  attached 
to  the  villa  belonging  to  the  Waterhouse  family. 
Although  the  ground  hereabout  has  been  almost 
reclaimed  from  its  pristine  marshy  state,  it  is  not 
entirely  divested  of  its  humid  character :  the  names 
which  these  places  retain,  even  to  this  day — "the 
Mosses," — are  evidence  of  their  once  having  been 
boggy,  swampy,  marshy  lands ;  but  only  in  this  part 
of  the  township  is  there  evidence  of  marsh  or  moss 
having  at  any  time  existed  at  Everton.  Two  of  these 
"  Mosses,"  together  with  the  Rye-croft,  or  Hey, — a 
piece  of  land  close  by,  measuring  in  the  whole  two 
and  a  half  acres, — were  sold,  in  the  year  1549,  for 

z 


338  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

£15;    a  copy  of  this  deed  of  sale,  the  compiler  of 
this  treatise  has  in  his  possession. 

There  is  a  patch,  or  portion  of  land,  which  still 
hears  the  name  of  the  GREAT-hey  (locality  17,  a); 
hut  this  part,  which  now  measures  SR.  16p.,  is  the 
remainder  only  of  a  very  large  piece  of  land,  called, 
from  time  immemorial,  the  Great-hey,  out  of  which,  the 
villas  of  Mrs.  Waterhouse,  and  Messrs.  Hope,  Higgin- 
son,  Allcock,  and  Blundell,  have  all  heen  formed. 


SECTION  VIII. 


HISTORICAL  SUMMARY. 


IT  was  only  at  a  comparatively  late  period  that  Ever- 
ton  emerged  out  of  a  state  of  rudeness ;  much  less 
than  a  hundred  years  ago,  with  perhaps  one  or  two 
solitary  exceptions,  the  township  was  inhabited  by 
persons  of  the  plainest  rural  manners,  and  of  truly 
rustic  habits.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century,  a 
few  settlers  from  the  neighbouring  town  of  Liverpool 
were  the  first  to  introduce  genteel  manners  and  a 
polish  into  Everton  society :  a  few  eminent,  and  some 
humble  merchants  of  that  great  commercial  town, 
desirous  of  relaxation  from  busines,  settled  themselves 
on  Everton-hill ;  where,  with  every  advantage  of  a 
rural  residence,  they  were  still  not  too  far  removed 
from  the  town's  conveniences,  and  at  hand  and  ready, 
when  required,  to  aid  or  conduct  their  commercial 
enterprizes.  Another  advantage,  possessed  at  most 
times  by  these  trading  settlers,  was,  that  they  could 
view  the  egress  and  ingress  of  the  Liverpool  argosies, 
and  also  note  the  general  movements  of  the  vessels  of 


340  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

that  port  in  which  they  were  themselves  directly  or 
indirectly  interested. 

It  requires  not  the  inspiration  or  the  gift  of  a  pro- 
phet, to  predict  that  Everton  is  destined  to  be  a  place 
of  great  consequence;  the  obscurity,  insignificance, 
and  humility  in  which  it  lay  for  many  ages  past,  will 
shortly  be  contrasted  with  proud  prospects  and  brilliant 
events:  its  late  green  sward  is  fast  being  covered 
with  magnificent  mansions,  and  multitudes  of  more 
humble  dwellings;  in  fine,  the  township  of  Everton 
will  be  soon  a  sharer  in  the  commercial  fame  and 
immense  trade  of  its  neighbour, — it  might  indeed  be 
said,  of  its  semi-self, — the  town  of  Liverpool ;  a  town 
that,  from  its  late  rapid  strides  to  eminence,  may  lay 
claim  to  the  title  of  modern  Tyre. 

In  ancient  times,  Everton  must  have  been  consi- 
dered little  other  than  a  large  farm  or  estate ;  for  the 
whole  township  or  manor  has  been  frequently,  and 
at  one  swoop,  conveyed  or  transferred,  by  gift  or  sale, 
as  well  by  royal  personages,  as  also  by  patrician,  and 
even  by  plebeian,  subjects  of  the  realm.  By  a  docu- 
ment, a  copy  of  which  will  be  found  in  the  Appendix, 
it  appears  that  Everton  had,  previously  to  the  year 
1761,  provided  two  soldiers  for  the  state;  but,  on  ac- 
count of  the  then  small  value  of  the  township,  was 
relieved  of  one-half  of  this  impost,  and,  by  the  order  of 
the  magistrates,  was  then  charged  and  directed  to 
raise  only  one  soldier  for  public  service.  At  this 
period  the  population  of  Everton  was  very  limited; 
indeed,  it  is  somewhat  remarkable  that,  from  the  year 


HISTORICAL  SUMMARY.  341 

1327  to  the  close  of  the  seventeenth  century,  so  little 
increase  took  place  in  the  number  of  its  inhabitants, 
as  may  be  observed  on  inspecting  the  tables  given  in 
the  appendix  to  this  work.  At  so  late  a  period  as 
immediately  previous  to  the  parliamentary  war,  the 
stupid  and  barbarous  belief  of  witchcraft  existed  at 
Everton ;  for  an  entry,  which  was  made  in  the  town's 
accounts  of  the  year  1761,  treats  of  a  certain  witch 
Mary.  Really,  it  is  nearly  incredible  that  our  almost 
immediate  ancestors  should  have  been  so  besotted : 
will  our  posterity  have  any  thing  like  this  to  charge 
us  with  ? 

The  principal  parts  of  the  generalities  of  the  history 
of  Everton,  previous  to  the  early  part  of  the  eigh- 
teenth century,  have  been  given  in  the  first  sec- 
tion of  this  treatise ;  and  nothing  on  which  national 
affairs  can  be  said  to  be  grafted  or  blended  with  its 
history  appears  on  the  records,  which  for  the  most 
part  are  comparatively  modern,  until  the  siege  of 
Liverpool,  which  occurred  in  the  year  1 644,  by  King 
Charles'  forces,  under  the  command  of  Prince  Rupert. 
Of  this  siege  several  versions  are  extant,  all  agreeing 
in  the  main,  and  from  which,  collectively,  the  follow- 
ing account  is  selected  and  compiled. 

On  collating  all  the  existing  data  of  the  siege  of 
Liverpool  during  the  parliamentary  war,  it  would 
appear  that  Prince  Rupert,  having  taken  Bolton  by 
storm,  remained  there  a  few  days  to  refresh  his  army ; 
after  which,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  month  of  May, 
he  marched  to  the  attack  of  Liverpool,  in  the  imme- 


342  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

diate  neighbourhood  of  which  town,  it  is  pretty  clearly 
ascertained,  he  arrived  on  the  evening  of  the  first  of 
June,  1644;  and,  in  the  first  instance,  commenced, 
or  prepared  to  commence,  his  operations  of  siege  on 
its  north  side,  having,  doubtless,  received  good  infor- 
mation that  on  that  side  it  was  the  weakest  and  most 
vulnerable ;  the  result  shews  that,  if  he  acted  on  such 
information,  it  was  substantially  correct.  It  was  not 
long,  however,  ere  the  prince  discovered  the  disad- 
vantages that  presented  themselves  to  a  besieging 
army  on  the  north  of  Liverpool  j  for  the  ground  there 
was  only  on  a  level  with  the  town,  whereas,  on  the 
east  and  south-east,  its  immediate  vicinage  was  over- 
looked and  commanded  by  high  hills.  Seeing  that 
there  was  no  chance  of  carrying  the  place  by  a  coup- 
de-main,  on  the  second  of  June,  the  prince  changed 
his  plan  of  operations ;  he  marched  his  army  to  Ever- 
ton,  placed  his  soldiers  in  camps  on  the  common,  near 
to  and  around  the  beacon,  and  established  his  head- 
quarters at  a  cottage  on  the  crest  or  south-east  pail  of 
Everton-brow.  This  cottage  is  well  known,  and  has 
received  notice  in  this  treatise,  under  the  title  of 
Prince  Rupert's  head-quarters ;  as  to  his  officers,  they 
were  principally  quartered  at  the  houses  or  cottages 
of  the  village,  some  of  which  also  still  remain  in  very 
tolerable  habitable  condition.  The  prince  raised  a 
battery  on  a  natural  platform,  or  flat  piece  of  ground, 
which  lies  some  few  yards  on  the  south  of  the  cottage, 
and,  in  the  first  instance,  from  that  battery  the  town 
of  Liverpool  was  cannonaded ;  but  the  distance  was 


HISTORICAL  SUMMARY.  343 

too  great  for  carrying  into  effect  this  offensive  opera- 
tion, therefore  more  advanced  batteries  were  con- 
structed, on  ground  westward  of  where  the  king's 
statue,  in  London-road,  now  stands;  and  trenches  were 
formed  on  the  ground  which  runs  north  and  south 
along  the  crest  or  upper  part  of  Shaw's-brow,  and  on 
land  that  is  now  intersected  by  the  upper  or  eastern 
parts  of  Hunter-street,  Gerard-street,  and  Circus- 
street.  It  would  appear,  however,  that  neither  from 
the  batteries  of  Shaws-brow,  nor  of  Everton,  were 
sufficient  breaches  made  to  warrant  the  storming 
Liverpool  on  the  south-east  side ;  for  the  defences  in 
that  quarter  had  been  principally  constructed  of  sacks 
of  wool,  which  were  piled  up  on  the  interior  sides  of 
hastily-formed  mud  walls — this  wool  had  been  brought 
to  Liverpool  by  certain  emigrant  Irish  protestants, 
who,  having  escaped  the  massacre  of  1641,  formed  a 
valuable  reinforcement  to  the  garrison  of  Liverpool. 

As  to  the  south  and  west  sides  of  Liverpool,  they 
were  efficiently  protected  by  the  river  and  the  pool; 
in  the  latter,  the  tide  flowed  by  where  the  Old-dock 
was,  and  where  Paradise-street,  Whitechapel,  (for- 
merly Frog-lane,)  and  the  Old  Haymarket  now  are. 
But  the  prince,  having  received  confirmation  of  the 
besieged  town  being  vulnerable  on  the  north  side, 
attacked  it  on  that  side,  and  carried  it  by  escalade  and 
storm,  about  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  26th 
June,  1644;  his  soldiers  put  to  death  all  they  met 
with,  until  they  came  to  the  high-cross,  which  stood 
upon  the  spot  where  the  town-hall  now  stands* 


344  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

Here  the  prince's  troops  met  with  a  regiment  of 
soldiers  from  the  castle,  who  beat  a  parley,  and  de- 
manded quarter.  This  was  granted  them  on  their 
submitting  to  become  prisoners  of  war,  and  on  sur- 
rendering the  castle  to  the  prince :  thus  ended  that 
siege  of  Liverpool.  But  not  long  after  the  place  was 
re-possessed  by  the  parliament,  and  accordingly,  in 
the  latter  part  .of  the  year  1644,  the  parliamentary 
Lieutenant-General  Meldrum  had  command  of  the 
place.  It  is  somewhat  strange  that  tradition  is  silent 
on  any  remarkable  event  which  may  have  occurred  in 
Everton,  during  its  occupancy  by  the  troops  of  Prince 
Rupert;  save  that,  during  the  siege  (or,  as  some  with 
more  latitude  say,  during  the  civil  wars)  the  clergy  of 
Liverpool,  being  driven  out  of  that  town  for  their 
loyalty  to  their  unfortunate  king,  solemnized  several 
marriages  at  the  beacon,  then  standing  at  Everton. 
Of  course,  to  such  holy  and  loyal  persons,  the  Prince, 
who  was  nephew  to  Charles  I.,  would  afford  his 
utmost  protection.  But  there  are  some  trifling  affairs 
connected  with  the  siege,  traditionally  handed  down 
to  a  few  of  the  elder  of  the  now  living  inhabitants  of 
Everton,  one  of  whom  can  even  point  out  the  places 
where  the  holes  in  the  rock  are,  or  were,  in  which 
the  flag-staffs  of  Prince  Rupert  are  said  to  have  been 
fixed.  One  of  those  places  was  a  few  yards  north- 
east of  the  easternmost  door  on  the  north  side  of 
Prince  Rupert's  cottage  -,  the  other  is  on  the  north, 
across  the  road  called  Everton-brow,  and  opposite  to 
Rupert's  cottage ;  this  last  place  was  formerly  within 


HISTORICAL  SUMMARY.         -  345 

the  rails,  but  is  now  part  of  the  parapet  on  the  west 
of  the  coffee-house.  It  is  said  there  were  some 
niusquet  or  cannon  balls  found  near  Prince  Rupert's 
quarters  at  Everton,  and  that  those  balls  were  in 
the  possession  of  the  late  Matthew  Gregson,  Esq. 

There  can  be  little  doubt  that  the  skeletons  of  two 
men,  which  were  found  in  the  cemetery  of  the  church 
of  St.  George,  at  Everton,  a  few  years  ago,  were  those 
of  two  soldiers  of  Prince  Rupert,  that  had  been 
interred  there,  sans  ceremonie,  during  the  siege,  for  it 
is  authentically  stated,  that  his  troops  encamped  near 
the  beacon.  The  officers  attached  to  the  troops  of 
Prince  Rupert,  who  were  encamped  near  the  old 
beacon,  had  excellent  quarters  in  two  good  dwellings 
which  stood  within  a  few  yards  of  the  beacon  itself, 
and,  as  accords  with  undisputed  tradition,  one  of  those 
dwellings  was  a  public-house;  the  soldiers  would 
have  all  the  advantages  at  hand,  which  surplusage  of 
pay  or  booty  could  purchase  for  them.  It  is  not 
recorded  how  the  people  of  Everton  were  affected  or 
disposed  during  the  siege;  it  is,  however,  very 
strongly  surmised,  that  they  subscribed  to  the  tenets 
of  the  Vicar  of  Bray,  for  it  does  not  appear  that 
injury  was  inflicted,  or  censure  cast,  on  Everton's 
inhabitants,  by  either  of  the  belligerent  parties. 

There  is  the  following  passage  in  Gores'  directory 
for  1829 :  "  the  hollow  way  to  Everton "  (from 
Liverpool)  "  to  be  made  passable  for  man  and  cart — 
1663" — but  where  and  what  this  hollow  way  was, 
it  must  be  the  business  of  the  antiquarian  to  discover, 


346  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

none  being  now  alive,  at  Everton,  who  even  know 
where  the  place  was ;  hut,  as  there  was  then  hut  one 
knotvn  main  road  to  Everton,  it  may  be  very  plausibly 
surmised,  that  this  hollow  way  was  Byrom-street. 

Although  on  the  very  precincts  of  Everton  there 
are  great  public  roads,  which  lead  to  the  principal 
towns  of  Britain,  yet  through  the  township  itself,  no 
direct  road  passes  to  any  place  of  material  conse- 
quence :*  from  this  circumstance  there  is  something 
gained  in  the  advantages  derivable  from  privacy  of 
situation;  although  much  of  it  may  be  lost,  when 
the  township  becomes  more  densely  settled.  It  is, 
however,  very  advantageous  to  Everton  that  no  pro- 
hibitory local  municipal  law,  real  or  pretended,  exists 
to  forbid  settlers  to  domicile  themselves,  or  to  carry 
on  trade,  in  the  township :  this  freedom  and  facility 
will  lead  much  industry  and  talent  into  the  place, 
when  need  shall  require  them,  and  which  it  is  very 
probable  will  soon  be  the  case. 

There  is  a  circumstance  connected  with  Low-hill, 
not  generally  known,  touching  the  impolicy  of  muni- 
cipal prohibitory  enforcements,  ancient  illiberal  prac- 
tices, and  injudicious  by-laws,  which  now,  thank 
heaven !  are  deemed  too  obnoxious  to  be  enforced, 
and  are,  indeed,  almost  obsolete ;  and  as  the  scene  of 
the  circumstance  lies  but  a  few  yards  from  the  south 

*  The  good  and  bold  road  now  just  formed  by  the  junction  of  Shaw- 
street  and  the  Netherfield  roads,  and  the  projected  boundary  roads,  will 
present  most  admirable  advantages  to  travellers,  as  they  will  constitute 
most  convenient  and  spacious  lines  of  communication  between  the 
London-road  and  the  great  North-road. 


HISTORICAL  SUMMARY.  347 

border  of  Everton,  it  may  not  be  deemed  altogether 
irrelevant  to  introduce  the  matter  here.  Some  tune 
about  the  middle  part  of  the  last  century,  a  Mr. 
Savage  (probably  a  Scotsman)  had  settled  himself  in 
the  linen  trade  at  Liverpool,  where  his  business 
throve  to  his  heart's  content ;  but  the  common-council 
of  that  borough  (who  were  for  the  most  part  traders 
themselves),  instigated  by  prudence,  or  parsimony,  or 
perhaps  by  patriotism,  at  length,  with  a  by-law, 
ejected  Mr.  Savage  from  the  town  of  Liverpool; 
he  did  not,  however,  remove  his  establishment  to 
any  great  distance ;  he  fitted  up  a  house  which  stood 
on  Low-hill,  and  such  was  his  celebrity  in  regard  to 
the  goodness  and  cheapness  of  his  commodities,  that 
the  people  of  Liverpool  flocked  to  his  warehouse,  and, 
in  consequence,  his  business  wonderfully  encreased ; 
nor  was  this  all,  for  many  settlers  (aliens  especially) 
removed,  and  others  prepared  to  leave  Liverpool  for 
the  neighbourhood  where  Mr.  Savage  had  established 
his  mail :  and  had  not  the  prohibitory  decrees  of  the 
wise  men  of  Gotham  been  rescinded,  Low-hill,  aye, 
and  probably  Everton-hill  also,  had  stood  in  rivalry, 
as  to  internal  commerce,  with  the  now  lordly  town  of 
Liverpool  -,  but  be  that  as  it  may,  had  not  the  restric- 
tive or  prohibitory  system  been  abandoned,  Liverpool, 
at  this  time,  would,  perhaps,  have  been  only  a  tenth- 
rate  place  of  trade. 

Reverting  again  to  the  great  high-roads,  that  one 
which  lies  in  the  south,  called  London-road,  will  pro- 
bably never  much  directly  advantage  Everton ;  but  as 


348  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

the  great  north-road  touches  its  north-west  comer, 
Everton  thereby  will  ultimately  be  much  benefited. 
The  circumstance  of  that  road  running  through  the 
village  of  Kirkdale;  the  presence  of  that  stupen- 
dous, yet  handsome  erection,  the  house  of  correction ; 
and  the  proximity  of  the  now-constructing  north 
docks  of  Liverpool,  must,  after  a  time,  convert  the 
township  of  Kirkdale  into  consequence  and  value; 
at  present  the  place  is  found  to  be  fertile  by  hor- 
ticulturists, and  until  lately  was  a  pleasant,  rural,  and 
sequestered  spot. 

For  many  years  the  townships  of  Everton  and 
Kirkdale  had  a  copartnery  of  liability  laid  on  them  to 
raise  each  the  fraction  of  a  man  for  the  militia;  that  is, 
on  the  supposition  that  six  men  were  to  be  raised, 
Everton  may  have  had  three  whole  men  to  provide, 
Kirkdale  two  entire  men,  and  the  united  townships 
furnished  the  sixth  man  at  their  joint  expense; 
but  the  practice  has  been  discontinued  for  some 
years. 

Previous  to  entering  on  the  history  of  Everton 
during  the  nineteenth  century,  it  may  be  as  well  to 
dilate  on,  and  endeavour,  in  an  historical  way,  to 
concisely  connect,  the  most  material  of  the  minutes 
found  recorded  on  the  books  of  the  township,  (the 
earliest  of  which  bears  the  date  of  1731,)  and  to  graft 
on  them  such  matter  as  may  appear  pertinent  to  the 
subject.  In  the  year  1731,  as  is  usual  now,  the 
inhabitants  of  Everton  annually  met  at  certain  periods 
to  scan  their  past,  regulate  their  present,  and  direct 


HISTORICAL  SUMMARY.  349 

their  future  affairs;  in  those  days  the  constables  of 
Everton  were  chosen  yearly,  according  to  what  is 
termed  house-row,  that  is,  impartially,  or  in  turn  ; 
but  the  duties  of  the  office  were  so  light,  that  the 
person  chosen  had  no  difficulty  in  getting  a  substitute, 
who  was  glad  to  take  the  office  on  payment  from  the 
township  of  the  small  sum  of  10s.  per  annum;  the 
township  also  gave  10s.  to  some  one  able  to  wield  the 
pen,*  for  writing  the  accounts.  On  looking  over  the 
account  of  expenditure  for  the  year  1731,  it  appears 
that  the  small  sum  of  £9  4s.  3d.  was  disbursed  to 
defray  the  entire  of  the  township's  public  expenses ; 
what  a  contrast  this  forms  with  the  present  state 
of  Everton's  financial  affairs !  For  the  year  1828, 
ending  in  March  1829,  the  sum  of  £2,107  16s.  3d. 
was  required,  exclusive  of  the  sums  raised  to  pay  the 
watchmen,  of  which  no  accounts  are  published.  Great 
as  the  difference  is,  in  a  few  years  it  will  probably  be 
much  extended;  therefore  it  is  imperative  on  the 
authorities  of  Everton  to  check  pauperism  as  much 
as  possible,  in  a  legal  and  humane  manner;  and  as 
we  English  are  a  nation  fond  of  precedents,  it  may 
not  be  amiss  to  refer  those  authorities  to  a  minute 
made  in  the  town's  book,  on  the  20th  June,  1754. 
(See  Appendix.) 

Everton  once  had  a  share  in  a  workhouse  at  Orms- 
kirk,  but  in  the  year  1818,  the  copartnery  was  dis- 
solved, which  some  think  has  been  disadvantageous 

*  To  be  able  to  write  was  no  mean  qualification,  in  those  days,  at 
Everton. 


350  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

to  Everton;  but  ultimately,  and  not  remotely,  it  will 
be  found  that  the  township  must  have  its  own  poor- 
house,  within  its  own  tenitorial  limits,  and  under  the 
near  and  direct  surveillance  and  management  of  its 
own  authorities,  otherwise  the  demands  of  the  out- 
door poor  will  be  clamorous,  and  their  claims  be 
found  excessively  expensive  to  satisfy.  It  has  been 
suggested  that  an  additional  building,  placed  on  the 
south  of  the  pinfold-cottage,  would  serve  for  a  work- 
house— perhaps  the  suggestion  is  good,  and  worthy 
of  immediate  consideration. 

It  appears,  in  the  town's  accounts,  that  the  wages 
paid  a  hundred  years  ago  to  a  working  man,  at  Ever- 
ton,  was  tenpence,  and  for  a  horse  one  shilling,  per 
diem.  These  accounts  also  shew  that  formerly  the 
inhabitants  of  Everton  kept  the  beacon  in  repair,  for 
a  charge  is  there  made  to  that  effect,  in  the  year  1 734, 
but  since  then  nothing  of  a  similar  nature  is  recorded 
in  those  transactions ;  but  as  to  the  ancient  cross,  and 
the  dial  thereon,  they  have  frequently  been  repaired 
and  kept  in  order  at  the  town's  charge — and  why 
have  that  ancient  relique  and  the  poor  man's  clock 
been  removed? — there  does  not  appear  any  minute 
on  the  books  of  the  township  to  order  or  sanction  the 
measure. 

In  the  year  1741,  it  is  stated,  "  the  boundaries  were 
walked ; "  this  should  be  a  hint  sufficient  to  remind 
us,  that  it  would  be  desirable  and  advantageous  to 
direct  certain  officers,  and  a  posse  of  the  town's  people, 
annually  to  "walk  the  liberties;"  nor  should  parsimony 


HISTORICAL  SUMMARY.  351 

urge  us  to  stint  the  order  to  the  walk  only,  let  refresh- 
ments, on  a  moderate  and  temperate  scale,  be  provided, 
and  the  day  will  arrive  when  the  youth  of  Everton 
will  joyfully  ask,  "  When  will  liberty-day  arrive  ?  " 
Such  a  feeling  should  be  now  excited,  and  continually 
encouraged. 

In  the  year  1744,  the  charge  of  6s.  for  "journeys 
to  Prescot  about  the  papists,"  and  the  charge  of 
Is.  lOd.  for  searching  the  township  of  Everton  "for 
papists,"  too  plainly  indicate  the  temper  of  the  times 
preluding  the  civil  war ;  but  Everton  does  not  seem  to 
have  been  much  troubled  with  warlike  proceedings,  nor 
does  it  appear  that  any  papists,  at  least  none  that 
proved  troublesome,  were  found;  but  certainly  the 
sound  of  preparation  was  made,  the  town's  arms  were 
cleaned  and  repaired,  and  a  goodly  muster  must  have 
been  made  on  the  occasion,  for  the  repairs  of  those 
arms  cost  the  sum  of  2s.  lOd. !  but,  to  speak  seriously, 
it  would  seem  that  only  one,  or  at  most,  some  two  or 
three,  musquets  were  all  the  town  could  have  pos- 
sessed; however  the  enemy  came  not,  and  the  prowess 
of  the  Evertonians  of  that  day  was  never  tried. 

In  the  same  year,  1744,  a  share  in  the  workhouse 
at  Ormskirk  was  purchased,  of  which  notice  has  been 
already  taken ;  five  pounds  is  stated  to  be  the  sum 
Everton  paid  for  its  share  or  interest  in  the  building. 

In  the  year  1 746,  it  would  appear  that  the  paviour 
made  his  first  appearance  in  Everton,  as  may  be 
gathered  from  the  words  of  an  entry  made  in  the  town's 
books  that  year ;  latterly,  however,  he  has  had  a  fine 


352  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

harvest  in  the  township,  where  nearly  a  thousand 
pounds  are  annually  spent  on  the  roads;  but  seeing 
that  it  is  spent,  and,  for  the  most  part,  advantageously 
to  the  community,  we  should  not  grudge  the  little  we 
individually  contribute  of  outlay,  but  rather  rejoice 
that,  in  improving  our  ways,  we  are  benefiting 
posterity. 

It  is  much  to  be  wondered  at,  that  until  the  year 
1749  the  inhabitants  of  Everton  took  no  steps  to 
secure  their  public  books  and  documents  of  value; 
in  that  year,  however,  they  directed  that  a  strong 
chest  should  be  provided  for  the  purpose,  and  accord- 
ingly, at  the  cost  of  twenty-six  shillings,  the  measure 
was  accomplished,  and  the  chest  then  procured  still 
lays  claim  to  be  the  sole  secure  archives  of  Everton. 

Until  the  above  year  little  notice  seems  to  have 
been  taken  of  the  encroachment  of  individuals,  who 
at  their  pleasure  carted  away  the  soil  from  the  lanes, 
and,  as  it  would  appear,  took  slices  from  the  highways, 
to  add  to  their  own  possessions ;  but  in  this  year 
(1749)  the  inhabitants  of  Everton  resolved  to  check, 
and,  indeed,  entirely  stop,  those  proceedings,  for  they 
passed  resolutions  to  have  the  aggressing  parties 
called  upon,  and  payment  demanded  of  them  for  acts 
of  infringement;  at  the  same  time  it  was  ordered, 
that  such  proceedings  should  not  be  permitted  in 
future,  without  the  sanction  of  the  community  having 
been  first  duly  obtained.  In  or  about  the  year  1 754, 
there  would  appear  to  have  been  symptoms  of  a  dis- 
position to  build  cottages,  and  introduce  prospective 


HISTORICAL  SUMMARY.  353 

paupers  into  the  township,  for,  at  a  meeting  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Everton  in  that  year,  it  was  resolved, 
that  persons  letting  cottages  should  save  the  town- 
ship harmless  from  the  expense  that  might  accrue 
from  their  tenants  becoming  hurthensome  to  the 
township.  It  might  be  advantageous  to  its  present 
inhabitants  to  keep  sight  of  the  measures  adopted  by 
our  predecessors  of  1754. 

Passing  on  to  the  year  1763,  it  appears  that  there 
was  then  certain  waste  land  near  the  old  beacon,  part 
of  the  lease  of  115  acres,  which,  not  having  been 
allotted  to  any  particular  individual,  might,  so  far  as 
regards  the  leasehold  interest,  be  deemed  the  property 
of  the  township.  In  1 763,  this  land  was  first  let  by  the 
township,  at  2s.  6d.  per  annum,  to  Henry  Hardwar, 
Esq.,  the  collector  of  customs,  Liverpool,  who  resided 
at  the  house  near  to  the  old  beacon,  which  is  shewn 
in  the  plate  given  in  this  work,  but  the  right  of  road 
to  the  beacon  was  reserved ;  and  in  the  same  year 
the  inhabitants  of  the  township  let  a  piece  of  land, 
called  the  "  Netherfield-lane,"  to  R.  Lunt,  for  £3  3s. 
per  annum — this  must  have  been  a  large  lot,  and 
from  subsequent  circumstances  appears  nearly  iden- 
tified with  locality  23  b. 

In  1764  leave  was  given  to  Mr.  Halsall  to  remove 
the  pinfold  that  stood  in  what  is  now  called  Rupert- 
lane,  which  was  carried  into  effect  some  years  after- 
wards by  the  late  Mr.  Harper,  or  rather  the  walls  of 
the  old  pinfold  were  razed,  and  another  was  constructed 
at  the  north  end  of  Netherfield-lane  north. 

2  A 


354  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

In  1765  the  land  near  the  beacon  was  sold  to  H. 
Hard  war,  Esq.,  reserving  a  road  to  the  beacon,  and 
this  land  now  forms  part  of  the  cemetery,  &c.  of  the 
church  of  St.  George.  In  the  year  1770  the  place 
where  the  bridewell  now  stands  was  sold  by  the  late 
J.  Seacome,  Esq.  to  the  township  for  £20,  as  is  stated 
more  particularly  in  the  section  of  General  Observa- 
tions. It  was  at  this  place  that  the  late  Joshua  Rose, 
Esq.  proposed  to  build  a  church  at  his  own  expense, 
the  foundation  of  which  was  commenced;  but  the 
project  was  given  up,  as  is  supposed,  in  consequence 
of  a  want  of  concert  between  the  constituted  autho- 
rities of  Everton  and  Mr.  Rose. 

It  will  be  found  in  the  town's  accounts,  that  even  so 
»late  as  1774,  the  authorities  of  Everton  had  the  libe- 
rality to  keep  the  poor-man's  clock  in  repair,  for  the 
dial  on  the  cross  was  "squared"  in  that  year.  In  1 775 
Mr.  Rose  rented  the  Netherfield  for  £4  per  annum, 
and  in  1777  purchased  it  for  £140;  the  description 
given  of  the  place  pretty  closely  identifies  it  with  loca- 
lity 23,  b.  Soon  after  this  period  the  south  end  of 
the  road  called  Everton-lane,  leading  from  Everton 
village  to  Low-hill,  was  altered ;  and  in  1 780  Mr. 
Rose  was  ordered  to  pay  Mr.  Gregson,  out  of  the  pur- 
chase money  of  the  Netherfield-lane  land,  the  "money 
Mr.  Gregson  had  expended  on  the  roads  when  he  was 
in  office." 

In  the  year  1787  a  stone-jug  or  bridewell  was  built 
on  the  triangular  patch  of  land  lately  walled  and 
railed  in,  at  the  upper  part  of  Everton-brow :  such 


HISTORICAL  SUMMARY.  355 

an  erection  might  have  suited  the  temper  and  the 
exigencies  of  the  times  in  which  it  was  erected ;  but 
how  does  it  suit  the  temper  and  the  exigencies  of 
these  enlightened  times  ?  To  reply,  would  be  to 
reflect  on  the  intellectual  attainments  of  the  present 
inhabitants  of  Everton. 

.  Surely  this  apology  for  a  stronghold  will  be  razed 
to  the  ground,  and  its  site  occupied  with  something 
more  becoming  and  useful — and  what  would  be  the 
expense  ?  so  little,  indeed,  that  it  would  be  scarcely 
felt,  comparatively  speaking,  by  such  a  wealthy  and 
respectable  community  as  that  of  Everton ;  whilst  the 
advantages  to  be  attained  would  be  great  and  many. 
Somewhere  hereabout  a  large  hall  should  be  erected, 
in  which  the  inhabitants  of  the  township  might  conve- 
niently and  comfortably  assemble;  the  chief  constable's 
offices,  and  even  his  residence,  might  be  fixed  here : 
a  spacious  bridewell  might  also  be  constructed,  with 
the  additional  advantage  of  having  secure  archives 
in  which  to  deposit  the  township's  books  and  docu- 
ments of  value  and  interest.  This  last,  indeed, 
is  a  necessary  measure,  for  it  is  astonishing  how 
few  documents  are  now  to  be  met  with,  touching 
Everton' s  public  affairs ;  that  many  documents  exist, 
there  is  little  doubt,  but  most  of  them  are  missing, 
and  in  all  likelihood  they  lie  neglected  among  the 
family  papers  of  persons  formerly  in  authority  at 
Everton;  yet  so  supine,  or  so  suspicious,  are  the 
representatives  of  those  persons,  that  all  applications 


356  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

to  recover,  or  even  to  inspect  them,  with  scarcely  a 
single  exception,  are  and  have  heen  unsuccessful. 

In  the  year  1787,  it  was  ordered  that  a  lamp 
should  he  fixed  on  the  bridewell;  but  the  measure 
was  never  carried  into  effect.  It  somewhat  ludi- 
crously occurred,  that  the  high  constable  of  Everton 
and  his  fidus  Achates  were  the  first  prisoners  who 
were  incarcerated  in  this  bridewell.  It  seems  that 
the  worthy  smith  of  Everton,  the  late  Mr.  George 
Mercer,  had  a  wag  of  a  journeyman,  who,  under  the 
directions  and  superintendence  of  the  constable,  placed 
locks,  bolts,  and  other  fastnesses  on  this  petty-prison ; 
the  smith  had  just  completed  his  work,  when  the 
constable  and  his  deputy  stepped  into  the  interior  to 
examine  the  fitness  and  correctness  of  things ;  but  no 
sooner  had  the  men  of  authority  graced  the  interior 
with  their  presence,  than  the  merry  blacksmith  turned 
the  key  of  the  outer  lock,  and  leisurely  walked  away. 
The  bawls  and  calls  of  the  guiltless  creatures,  thus 
unexpectedly  shut  up  in  "  durance  vile,"  brought 
some  stray  passengers  to  hear  their  sad  plaints,  who, 
on  receiving  due  instructions,  proceeded  to  the  smith's 
laboratory,  and  with  proper  petition  or  remonstrance, 
there  and  then  made,  softened  the  heart  of  Vulcan's 
mischievous  son  5  for  after  treating  the  applicants  with 
a  joke  to  fit  the  occasion,  he  presented  the  key  of  the 
dungeon,  and  forthwith  the  entrapped  men  of  authority 
were  set  free. 

In  the  year  1795,  the  charge  of  2s.  for  making 


HISTORICAL  SUMMARY.  357 

four  privy  searches  every  year  was  discontinued; 
this  charge  annually  makes  its  appearance  in  the 
township's  book,  from  the  earliest  date  found  there, 
which  is  that  of  1731.  It  would  appear  that  this 
custom  of  privy-search  was  formerly  a  national  prac- 
tice, and  an  indispensable  part  of  the  duty  of  the  chief 
constable  of  every  township,  &c.;  it  was  an  investiga- 
tion or  search  after  all  ill-disposed  strangers,  aliens, 
improper  settlers,  or  sojourners.  Of  course  it  is  to  be 
presumed,  that  such  obnoxious  characters,  when 
found,  were  dealt  with  according  to  law,  or  the  then 
general  mode  of  punishment.  The  custom  was  what 
may  be  termed  a  "  good  old-fashioned  measure,"  and 
might,  under  proper  regulations,  be  practised  now, 
and  prove  salutary. 

In  the  year  1801,  the  people  of  Everton  very 
laudably  took  respectable  and  efficient  measures  to 
ascertain  and  mark  their  boundary  lines,  particularly 
on  the  side  lying  next  to  Liverpool,  which  was  taking 
giant-like  strides  to  encrease  its  size;  for  the  archi- 
tects were  even  then  spreading  their  buildings  over 
the  fair  fields  and  pleasant  places  on  every  side,  so 
that  the  people  of  Everton  began  to  perceive  that,  in  a 
very  short  period  of  time,  the  western  parts  of  their 
township  must  be  covered  with  dwellings  and  other 
erections  for  the  use  and  convenience  of  man;  in 
fine,  that  Liverpool  and  Everton  must  become  so 
linked  and  blended  together,  as  to  present  the  sem- 
blance of  one  sole  and  single  town.  It  will  be  seen, 
on  a  reference  to  the  extracts  from  the  town's  books, 


358  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

that  on  the  20th  May,  1801,  a  number  of  the  land- 
owners of  Everton  and  others,  accompanied  by  one 
of  the  late*  rectors  of  Liverpool,  set  eight  boundary 
stones  "  to  the  extent  of  the  land  belonging  to  Ever- 
ton, which  lies  opposite  to  the  land  belonging  to 
Liverpool;  the  stones  are  marked  1800."  The 
names  of  the  witnesses  were  Edward  Rimmer,  John 
Hogg,  George  Broadbent,  and  the  worthy  rector, 
who  are  dead;  Peter  Pownall,  who  has  been  long 
absent;  and  John  Bushell,  who  still  remains  in  the 
township.  At  the  time  now  alluded  to  (1801), 
the  late  Mr.  John  Hogg  was  high-constable  of 
Everton :  he  resigned  his  office  in  1803. 

It  will  be,  perhaps,  the  most  perspicuous  mode  of 
proceeding,  to  give  a  statement  here  of  the  respective 
successors  of  Mr.  Hogg  in  the  constabulary  depart- 
ment of  Everton,  as  such  a  statement  may  tend  to 
give  a  clearness  of  character  to  what  will  follow  in 
these  pages  of  the  general  affairs  of  Everton.  On 
the  resignation  of  Mr.  Hogg,  two  candidates  offered 
themselves  for  the  office ;  viz.,  Mr.  John  Lyon,  and 
the  late  Mr.  Joseph  Ellinthorpe  :  Mr.  Lyon  was  the 
successful  candidate,  at  a  salary  of  £21  per  annum, 
with  no  allowance  for  a  clerk.f  This  salary  was 
inadequate,  particularly  without  a  clerk,  as  the  person 
chosen  for  office  had  little  other  chance  or  prospect 
than  that  of  his  accounts  gradually  progressing  into 

*  Rev.  R.  H.  Roughsedge. 

f  Yet  it  appears  that  four  guineas  per  annum  were  paid  annually  for 
keeping  the  accounts  during  the  years  1803,  4,  o,  6,  and  7. 


HISTORICAL  SUMMARY.  359 

the  most  perfect  confusion  :  his  scholarship  was  un- 
equal to  the  duty  he  had  to  perform;  this  truth  was 
soon  made  evident;  for  it  will  be  seen  that,  in  the 
year  1808,  Mr.  Joseph  Ellinthorpe  was  placed  as  Mr. 
Lyon's  coadjutor,  their  joint  services  being  remune- 
rated with  £50  per  annum,  and  "  to  be  allowed  their 
necessary  expenses,"  of  course  over  and  above  their 
salaries. 

In  the  year  1808,  the  numbers  of  strangers,  strag- 
glers, holiday,  and  other  michievous  visitors  had 
become  so  great  a  nuisance,  on  account  of  their 
irregular  and  improper  conduct,  as  to  create  a  neces- 
sity to  call  for  a  levy  of  additional  or  temporary 
constables,  and,  accordingly,  a  number  of  men  were 
hired  to  attend  and  scour  over  the  township,  on  Sun- 
days in  particular;  their  efforts,  however,  were  not 
crowned  with  much  direct  success ;  for  the  obstreper- 
ous strangers  always  contrived  to  escape  apprehension : 
but  in  some  degree,  the  measure  resulted  beneficially; 
for  the  very  name  itself  of  the  precautionary  measure, 
had  much  such  an  effect  on  the  mischievous  frequenters 
of  Everton,  as  the  smell  or  knowledge  of  the  presence 
of  a  cat  has,  on  those  domestic  depredators,  rats  and 
mice.  The  employment  of  extra  constables,  the  shut- 
ting up  of  public-houses  during  the  hours  of  divine  ser- 
vice, and  other  salutary  regulations,  restored  tolerable 
tranquillity  and  order  to  Everton  on  Sundays,  holi- 
days, and  indeed  on  all  days;  but,  perhaps,  the  novelty 
and  convenience  of  the  steam-vessels,  which  carried 
the  holiday  loungers  of  Liverpool  to  the  Cheshire 


360  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

side,  was  the  most  beneficial  relief,  and  mainly  tended 
to  restore  to  Everton  its  wonted  order  and  tranquillity. 
Toffy-hunters,  it  is  true,  continue  their  peregrinations 
to  Everton;  but  who  would  be  saucy  or  ill-behaved, 
whilst  tasting  the  delicious  productions  of  Mr.  Sandi- 
ford's  or  Mrs.  Cooper's  delicious  stores  ?  in  such  a 
case,  sweet-mouthed  civility  ought  to  be  the  current 
language  of  Everton's  visitors.  Proceeding  on  with 
the  constabulary  history  of  Everton,  it  must  be  stated, 
that  the  united  efforts  of  Messrs.  Lyon  and  Ellin- 
thorpe,  as  time  progressed,  became  less  and  less 
satisfactory  to  the  lords  and  ley-payers  of  Everton : 
it  moots  not  to  enter  on  particulars ;  suffice  it  at  once 
and  briefly  to  state,  that  the  dissatisfaction  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  township,  touching  their  constables' 
management,  resulted  in  their  dismissal  from  office. 
This  measure  was  accomplished  in  the  year  1813, 
when  Mr.  Alexander  Thompson  was  elected  high- 
constable,  &c.  of  Everton,  at  a  salary  of  £120  per 
annum;  and  in  the  year  1816,  so  satisfactorily  had 
he  performed  the  duties  of  his  offices,  that  at  a  public 
meeting  the  sum  of  £21  was  voted  and  paid  him,  in 
addition  to  his  salary,  in  consideration  of  his  able  and 
effective  services.  Until  the  year  1820,  Mr.  Thomp- 
son continued  to  perform  the  duties'  of  his  respective 
offices,  and  was  much  in  favour  with  the  inhabitants, 
when  a  defalcation  in  the  payment  due  to  government 
for  the  taxes  of  Everton  was  astoundingly  announced. 
The  sum  supposed  to  be  deficient  was  too  considerable 
to  be  lightly  noticed,  therefore  a  meeting  of  the 


HISTORICAL  SUMMARY.  361 

inhabitants  was  called,  and  a  public  investigation 
took  place,  at  which  a  deficiency  of  some  hundred 
pounds  was  ascertained.  The  inhabitants  were  called 
on  to  provide  for  the  liquidation  of  the  deficiency,  and 
of  course  Mr.  Thompson  lost  his  places.  It  ought, 
however,  to  be  stated  in  extenuation  (if  the  term  may 
be  used),  that  Mr.  Thompson,  when  called  on  to 
account  for  the  deficiency,  explained  that  "  he  lost  his 
pocket-book,  and  some  hundred  pounds  which  were 
therein  deposited,  no  part  of  which,"  as  he  further 
declared,  "  did  he  ever  receive  back  or  recover." 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  investigate  and 
bring  this  unpleasant  affair  to  a  close,  the  result  of 
whose  labour  does  not  appear  in  the  town's  books ; 
but  on  the  20th  November,  1820,  the  following  state- 
ment was  published,  in  the  form  of  a  printed  cir- 
cular: — 

"The  committee  appointed  at  a  general  meeting  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Everton,  held  on  the  31st  January 
last,  at  Halliday's  coffee-house,  for  the  purpose  of 
examining  into  the  deficiency  of  Alexander  Thomp- 
son, the  late  collector  of  taxes ;  have  to  state  to  you, 
that  the  amount  was,  as  nearly  as  they  could  ascertain, 
£700 ;  but  from  the  sale  of  his  private  property,  and 
arrears  collected  and  paid  by  his  trustees  to  the 
present  collector,  the  sum  is  reduced  to  £389,  to 
provide  for  which,  a  rate  of  two  shillings  and  one 
penny  in  the  pound  on  the  whole  amount  of  the 
assessed  taxes  for  the  present  year  will  be  necessary 
to  cover  the  same.  The  assessors  of  the  township 


362  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

have  been  called  upon  to  make  such  rate,  agreeable 
to  act  43  Geo.  3,  chap.  161,  sect.  56. 

"JONATHAN  BROOKS. 

"  A.  Thompson's  account  current  has  been  left  by 
his  trustees  with  Mr.  W.  Shaw,  the  collector,  for  the 
inspection  of  the  inhabitants." 

The  necessity  of  appointing  an  active,  prudent, 
and  efficient  person  to  fill  the  office  of  high-constable 
of  Everton,  now  very  forcibly  presented  itself  to  the 
minds  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  township ;  induce- 
ments were  held  out,  and  considerable  pains  taken,  to 
discover  and  bring  forward  respectable  and  competent 
candidates  to  offer  themselves  to  fill  the  several  offices 
of  high  constable,  overseer,  and  tax-collector.  Several 
persons  presented  themselves  as  candidates,  and  a 
meeting  of  the  inhabitants  was  called,  to  select  and 
elect  the  person  who  might  be  deemed  most  fit  and 
proper  to  fulfil  the  then  highly  encreased  and  pro- 
gressively encreasing  constabulary  duties  at  Everton. 
The  choice  fell  on  Mr.  William  Shaw,  and  it  has 
been  proved,  that  on  no  one  more  capable  could  such 
a  choice  have  fallen;  but  of  Mr.  Shaw's  duties  and 
abilities,  much  has  been  already  stated  in  the  section 
of  General  Observations. 

In  the  year  1828,  the  weight  of  Everton's  public 
affairs  became  so  much  encreased,  as  to  give  rise  to 
the  necessity  of  having  a  deputy-constable;  and 
accordingly,  at  a  meeting  duly  convened,  George 
Wrightson  was  appointed  to  that  office,  at  a  salary  of 
£60  per  annum;  but  the  deputy  did  not  continue  long 


HISTORICAL  SUMMARY.  363 

in  office,  for,  in  consequence  of  incapacity  or  error, 
he  was  obliged  to  resign  his  situation,  in  February, 
1830. 

On  the  resignation  of  Wrightson,  it  became  neces- 
sary to  elect  a  person  to  supply  his  place,  and  two 
candidates  offered  themselves  to  fill  the  situation, 
which  is  technically  termed  that  of  assistant-overseer. 
The  parties  were  Charles  Sandiford  and  William 
Smith.  A  short,  but  energetic  canvass  of  the  friends 
of  both  candidates  took  place ;  and  the  inhabitants 
were  called  together  on  the  25th  February,  1830, 
to  make  their  selection.  Accordingly,  at  six  o'clock 
in  the  evening  of  that  day,  the  rooms  of  Mr.  Halliday 
at  the  Everton  coffee-house  were  so  crowdedly  filled, 
as  to  raise  alarm  in  the  minds  of  some,  touching  the 
safety  of  their  limbs,  and  even  lives,  should  the  extraor- 
dinary pressure  on  the  floors  cause  them  to  give  way. 

On  James  Atherton,  Esq.  being  appointed  to  take 
the  chair,  William  Robinson,  Esq.  proposed  William 
Smith,  and  George  Syers,  Esq.  proposed  Charles 
Sandiford ;  the  sentiments  of  the  persons  assembled  as 
to  the  eligibility  and  fitness  of  each  candidate  for  the 
office  were  taken,  and  the  numbers  for  each  appear- 
ing nearly  equal,  a  poll  was  decided  on,  and  for  some 
time  the  voters  came  forward  alternately  for  each 
candidate  until  the  27th  round,  when  Smith's  party 
became  exhausted  of  voters  for  that  evening ;  but  at 
that  period  the  number  of  votes  were  in  Smith's 
favour,  for  the  poll  had  proceeded  according  to  the 


364  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

vestry  act;*  but  on  the  side  of  Sandiford  persons 
continued  to  vote  until  nine  o'clock,  when  he  had  a 
majority  of  forty-one  votes,  and  the  poll  closed  for 
that  night.  Next  morning  the  friends  of  Smith  came 
in  strength  sufficient  to  reduce  the  previous  evening's 
majority  to  eighteen  votes  against  him;  but  during 
the  day  the  party  for  Sandiford  exerted  themselves 
so  energetically  and  successfully,  as  to  place  him  in  a 
great  majority,  when  the  poll  finally  closed  at  six 
o'clock  of  the  evening  of  the  second  day. 

The  contest  exhibited  something  of  the  character  of 
similar  affairs  as  occasionally  conducted  at  Liverpool, 
and  the  tactics  of  some  experienced  electioneerers 
were  called  into  play ;  the  female-housekeepers  of  the 
township  were  canvassed,  and  most  of  them  voted ; 
the  affair  altogether  formed  a  novel  and  remarkable 
feature  in  the  quiet  history  of  Everton. 

At  the  close  of  the  poll  the  numbers  stood — 

For  Sandiford    205  persons,        261  votes . 

Smith 81      —  180  — 


124  81 

Supposed  bad  votes — 
For  Smith   2, 


H 

a 


Sandiford... 37,  r     35  35 


Leaves  a  real  majority  of  89  persons,  and  46  votes  in  fa- 
vour of  Sandiford. 

*  Each  person  rated  at  any  sum  under  £50,  has  one  vote ;  and  at  £50, 
and  under  £75,  two  votes ;  at  £75,  and  under  £100,  three  votes  j  and  so 
on  until  a  person  may  give  sir  votes,  but  no  more. 


HISTORICAL  SUMMARY.  365 

Having  given  Everton's  constabulary  history  from 
the  year  1800  to  the  present  time,  an  account  of  the 
manner  of  conducting  public  affairs,  and  of  events 
that  have  occurred  in  the  township,  must  be  continued 
in  their  regular  order.  The  magistrates  of  the  county, 
and  generally  the  magistrate  who  resides  nearest  at 
hand,  preside  over  the  judicial  affairs  of  Everton,  so 
far  as  their  magisterial  powers  extend ;  but  all  matters, 
touching  the  general  weal  and  local  arrangements, 
are  directed,  managed,  and  ordered  by  the  inhabitants 
at  large.  Parochial  affairs  and  the  surveillance  of 
the  highways,  together  with  the  laying  of  rates  and 
raising  the  needful  pecuniary  supplies,  to  answer  the 
exigencies  of  those  matters,  the  inhabitants  at  large 
also  govern,  direct,  and  conduct,  under  the  regulations 
and  stipulations  of  the  acts  of  parliament,  in  those 
cases  made  and  provided. 

It  is  the  custom,  and  has  long  so  been,  to  call  the 
inhabitants  together  on  all  cases  of  emergency,  touch- 
ing the  public  affairs  of  Everton.  On  such  occasions, 
they  meet  at  the  coffee-house,  on  the  brow,*  elect  a 
chairman,  and  proceed  to  business,  systematically  and 
orderly ;  and  it  has  seldom  happened  that  the  results 
and  final  decisions  of  such  meetings  have  been  other 
than  satisfactory :  the  public  voice  is  forcible,  and 
truth  loves  to  unveil  herself  in  large  assemblies,  where, 

*  Previously  to  the  town's-meetings  being  held  at  the  present  coffee- 
house, it  was  the  custom  of  the  inhabitants  to  meet  at  Boyd's,  a  public- 
house  which  was  formerly  kept  by  a  person  named  Boyd,  and  stood  where 
a  good  house  is  now  erected,  on  locality  42,  d,  in  Everton  lane;  part  of 
the  old  dwelling  still  remains,  on  the  south. 


366  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

in  general,  falsehood  has  so  many  eyes  bent  on  her, 
that  she  is  forced  to  slink  away  abashed  and  ashamed. 
This  mode  of  conducting  the  legislative  or  municipal 
affairs  of  the  township,  may  be  all-sufficient  at  present; 
but  as  the  population  increases,  the  necessity  of  esta- 
blishing something  that  may  be  styled  a  managing 
municipal  committee  will  be  felt,  and  most  likely  will 
be  effected. 

As  to  the  executive  or  constabulary  duties,  those 
may  and  must  be  performed  by  adding,  from  time  to 
time,  consecutive  recruits  to  that  department;  at 
present,  Mr.  Shaw  seems  to  be  quite  competent,  with 
the  aid  of  one  deputy,  or  assistant,  to  perform  all  the 
tasks  and  duties  of  his  multifarious  offices  satisfactorily. 

There  are  certain  fixed  times  when  parishes  and 
townships  hold  meetings,  at  which  the  inhabitants 
confer  on,  arrange,  and  expedite  public  affairs, — 
that  is,  those  of  the  township,  the  paupers,  the  county, 
and  the  highways. 

The  business  of  the  three  first-named  is  transacted 
at  Everton  in  public,  at  Easter ;  whilst  by  the  ordi- 
nances of  certain  acts  of  parliament,  the  public  meet- 
ings on  highway  affairs,  particularly  as  to  the  selection 
and  recommendation  of  a  person  to  serve  as  the  next 
surveyor  of  the  roads,  must  be  held  on  the  forenoon  of 
the  22d  day  of  September,  each  year;  adjourned 
meetings  may  be,  and  of  course  generally  are,  subse- 
quently held,  to  arrange,  settle,  and  pass  the  past 
year's  accounts,  and  to  determine  on  any  point  at 
issue,  or  matter  in  project,  or  progress. 


HISTORICAL  SUMMARY.  367 

The  method  of  convening  such  meetings  in  the 
township  of  Everton  is,  to  have  a  notice  of  the  time, 
place,  and  nature  of  the  proposed  meeting  read  in  the 
church,  and  also  to  have  written  notices  of  the  same 
placarded  on  the  church  door,  and  on  some  conspi- 
cuous place  on  or  near  the  house  at  which  the  meeting 
is  to  be  held.  Although  almost  invariably  right  and 
truth  rule  in  the  decisions  of  the  assemblies  that  con- 
gregate occasionally  to  transact  public  business  at 
Everton,  yet  individual  views,  partial  interests,  and 
private  manoeuvring  have  sometimes,  for  a  season  at 
least,  misled  and  abused  the  municipal  congresses  of 
the  township;  but  the  energy,  honesty,  discrimination, 
and  spirit  of  some  of  the  assembled  parties,  seldom  fail 
to  detect  the  fallacy,  sophistry,  and  falsehood  which 
intrigue  or  private  policy  may  adduce ;  such  honesty 
and  energy  generally  uncovers  the  cloven  foot,  and  in 
the  end  clothes  the  resolutions  of  public  assemblies 
in  the  garments  of  usefulness  and  propriety.  It  is 
acknowledged,  however,  that  some  improprieties  of 
management  have  been  tolerated,  or  looked  over, 
which  forbearance  has  emanated  more  from  a  spirit 
of  pity  than  of  justice;  sometimes,  indeed,  such 
things  have  been  permitted  to  pass  without  other 
penalty  than  proclaimed  or  implied  censure,  yet  some 
measure  is  generally  taken  at  the  proper  times  to 
check  attempts  at,  or  chances  of,  future  irregularity. 
In  matters  of  expenditure,  it  would  not  be  amiss  to 
limit  all  officers,  so  that,  without  the  sanction  and 
approbation  of  the  ley-payers  at  large,  no  officer  what- 


368  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

ever  should  be  permitted  to  expend,  on  any  one  given 
object,  more  than  a  certain  fixed  sum. 

It  may  be  as  well  to  treat  very  briefly  here  of  the 
taxatory  concerns  of  Everton.  With  regard  to  those 
taxes  that  are  raised  under  and  by  virtue  of  the 
powers  of  acts  of  parliament,  little  more  of  them  can 
be  noticed  than  what  the  table  in  the  appendix  states; 
which  shews  their  progressive  increase  and  com- 
parative amounts,  so  as  to  display,  at  a  glance,  the 
great  disparity  betwixt  the  amounts  raised  at  present, 
and  those  raised  in  days  of  yore. 

The  county  rate  draws  heavily  on  Everton ;  in  1815 
the  township  was  assessed  for  that  rate  at  £9981 — 
last  year  its  assessment  for  the  county  rate  was  £301 39. 
It  would  be  well  if  some  cheaper  mode  of  procuring 
safety  and  justice  could  be  obtained :  they  are  dear 
commodities  at  the  present  cost. 

The  lighting  and  nocturnal  watching  of  Everton  are 
modern  matters.  About  twenty-six  years  ago  the  late 
John  Drinkwater  and  James  Atherton,  Esqs.  made 
the  experiment,  on  a  limited  scale,  of  having  a  few  of 
the  Everton  roads  lighted  during  the  dark-moons  of 
the  winter  season ;  the  first  named  gentleman  raised 
by  subscription  somewhere  about  £40,  with  which  he 
commenced  operations,  and  placed  as  many  of  the  old 
darkness-made-visible  lamps  along  a  few  roads,  as  the 
funds  would  permit;  but  there  are  few  documents 
preserved  touching  the  earlier  years  of  Everton's 
lamp-lighting.  Some  time  about  the  year  1814,  the 
late  John  Hind,  Esq.  consolidated  the  management, 


HISTORICAL  SUMMARY.  369 

and  made  the  /amp-lighting  of  Everton  a  general  and 
united  concern ;  lie  took  pleasure  and  pride  in  direct- 
ing the  operations,  and  most  satisfactorily  conducted 
the  entire  business;  giving  to  the  subscribers  a  printed 
statement  of  his  receipts  and  disbursements  at  the  end 
of  every  season,  and  faithfully  accounting  for  his  trust, 
all  the  duties  of  which  he  most  meritoriously  performed; 
and  his  system  is  pretty  closely  followed  to  this  day. 
The  progressive  encrease  in  the  expense  of  lighting  the 
township  of  Everton  may  be  immediately  seen  in  the 
table  given  in  the  Appendix.  It  must  be  observed, 
that  the  late  rise  in  the  charge  of  lighting  the  town- 
ship is  principally  occasioned  by  the  introduction  of 
gas,  in  lieu  of  the  light  formerly  produced  from  oil 
and  wick ;  but  some  places  are  still  lighted  by  the  old 
mode.  It  is  to  be  observed,  however,  that  the  inha- 
bitants who  reside  in  the  vicinity  of  places  lighted  by 
gas,  pay  sixpence  in  the  pound  on  their  assessments, 
whilst  others,  whose  vicinities  are  lighted  in  the  old 
wick-and-oil  way,  pay  only  fourpence  in  the  pound. 
It  is  highly  to  the  credit  of  the  inhabitants  that,  with 
few  exceptions  indeed,  they  voluntarily  pay  to  the 
watching  and  lighting  of  the  township;  but  it  will 
shortly  require  the  aid  of  an  act  of  parliament  to 
enforce  and  equitably  regulate  these  matters  at  Ever- 
ton. 

About  twenty  years  ago,  a  somewhat  ludicrous 
event  occurred,  in  consequence  of  the  lack  of  lights  in 
parts  and  places  of  Everton.  One  dark  night,  as 

Esq.  and  his  sister  were  returning  to  their 

2B 


370  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

dwelling  on  Everton-hill,  from  a  visit  they  had  been 
paying  at  Liverpool,  their  route  lay  along  Fox-street 
and  Great  Homer-street ;  when  they  had  passed  in 
perfect  darkness  so  far  as  to  judge  themselves  at  the 
foot  of  Roscommon-street,  they  turned  off  suddenly 
to  the  east  to  ascend  the  hill,  hut,  to  their  dismay, 
surprise,  and  discomfort,  they  marched  knee-deep 
into  a  pond,  which,  in  those  days,  lay  at  the  west  end 
of  a  road  or  opening  on  the  south  of  Roscommon- 
street;  of  course  the  perambulators  went  to  the 
"  right-about,"  and  marched  out  well  soaked  with  wet, 
and  shiverjng  with  cold ;  but  on  essaying  a  passage 
a  little  further  north,  they  eventually  reached  their 
domestic  haven  :  the  pond  went  by  the  name  of 

" 's  bath"  for  many  years  afterwards ;   it  has, 

however,  been  dried  up  for  some  time  past.  The 
nocturnal  watching  of  Everton  is  pretty  general,  yet 
the  arrangements  are  numerous,  and  unconnected  with 
each  other :  a  few  neighbouring  streets  unite  together 
in  raising  a  fund  (which  by  the  bye  is  now  pretty 
generally  collected  by  the  high-constable),  and  with 
such  fund,  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  each  respective 
quarter,  pay  and  requite  the  watchmen,  who  at  the 
customary  times,  go  their  nightly  rounds,  call  the  hour, 
and  to  the  best  of  their  ability  protect  passengers  and 
property.  In  some  of  the  larger  of  these  irregular 
districts  there  are  two  watchmen.  There  are  no 
general  or  regularly  printed  documents  issued  to  give 
statements  of  receipts  and  disbursements,  touching  the 
watching  of  Everton,  but  the  direction  is  in  hands  so 


HISTORICAL  SUMMARY.  371 

respectable,  that  the  contributors  feel  perfectly  satisfied 
as  to  the  prudence  and  integrity  of  the  management. 

About  twenty-five  years  ago,  an  association  was 
formed,  and  a  fund  raised,  to  prosecute  offenders; 
some  prosecutions  were  entered  on,  but  probably 
through  lack  of  support,  or  perhaps  owing  to  want  of 
energy  in  the  parties  interested,  the  object  seems  to 
have  been  lost  sight  of,  if  not  altogether  abandoned. 
Before  taking  leave  of  these  subjects  entirely,  it 
ought  to  be  stated,  that  the  watching  and  lighting 
of  Everton  has  doubtless  saved  a  number  of  lives, 
and  much  property,  from  the  attacks  of  ruffians  and 
depredators.  The  damages  sustained  in  the  almost 
unexampled  storm  of  January,  1802,  have  already 
been  alluded  to,  and  many  ravages  of  tempests  at 
Everton  have  been  noticed  in  various  sections  where 
the  scenes  of  such  devastations  occcurred. 

In  the  year  1803,  the  cqmmander-in-cliief  of  the 
district,  Prince  William,  now  Duke  of  Gloucester, 
fixed  his  head-quarters  at  St.  Domingo-house ;  thus 
following  the  example  of  Prince  Rupert,  he  chose 
Everton  for  his  temporary  abode.  Prince  William 
was  received  and  entreated  with  all  the  respect, 
honour,  and  attention  due  to  his  rank:  the  gentry 
near  unto  him  were  proudly  anxious  to  vie  with  each 
other  in  proving  to  the  prince,  that  trade  and  com- 
merce were  not  hostile  to  hospitality  and  courteous 
demeanor,  nor,  in  many  cases,  to  politeness  and 
refinement  of  manner.  The  prince  seemed  perfectly 
satisfied  with  his  mercantile  and  munificent  neigh- 


372  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

Lours,  and  graced  many  a  banquet  at  Everton  with 
his  presence.  As  the  prince  is  the  only  member  of 
the  royal  family  who  has  dwelt  with  us  at  Everton  in 
modern  days,  it  is  hoped  it  may  be  permitted  to  give 
here  the  following  copy  of  a  memorandum  that  was 
made  some  little  time  after  the  prince  left  these  parts. 

"  Prince  William  of  Gloucester  is  of  manners  cour- 
teous and  urbane;  during  his  stay  at  Everton,  his 
intercourse  with  the  neighbouring  gentry  was  stamped 
just  enough  with  real  and  requisite  dignity,  mixed  up, 
at  the  same  time,  with  much  of  suavity  and  cheerful 
good  temper ;  he  was  highly  and  generally  respected 
and  esteemed.  At  the  time  now  treated  of,  the  prince 
was  a  young  man  of  superior  personal  appearance, 
possessing  very  agreeable  if  not  handsome  features, 
tolerable  of  stature,  but  of  slighter  make  than  the  gene- 
rality of  his  royal  cousins;  when  he  walked,  it  might  be 
discovered  that  he  was  slightly  troubled  with  lameness, 
but  when  seated,  or  riding,  he  might  lay  claim  to 
graceful  appearance.  The  prince  was  unostentatious, 
addressing  even  the  humblest,  always  courteously,  and 
not  unfrequently  condescendingly ;  with  the  upper 
classes  he  was  at  all  times  agreeably  polite. 

"  Could  Lavater  have  studied  the  prince's  features, 
he  perhaps  would  not  have  considered  them  to  index 
so  much  of  sublimity,  as  of  soundness,  of  intellect ; 
but  there  requires  not  a  perhaps  to  state,  that  Lavater 
would  have  read  in  the  prince's  physiognomy  strong 
traits  of  good  nature  and  goodwill  to  his  fellow- 
creatures." 


HISTORICAL  SUMMARY.  373 

If  the  prince,  subsequently  to  his  residence  at 
Everton,  has  spoken  against  the  slave-trade,  such  lan- 
guage has  been  dictated  by  his  conscience,  suggested, 
doubtless,  by  feelings  of  pure  philanthropy ;  but  most 
certainly  it  was  not  necessary,  during  his  temporary 
sojourn  among  the  African  slave  merchants  of  Liver- 
pool, that  he  should  either  preach  sermons,  or  indulge 
in  censorious  remarks  on  that  trade,  which  the  laws 
of  the  land  then  sanctioned,  but  which  is  now  most 
happily  abolished. 

In  the  month  of  September,  1804,  the  prince 
received  a  visit  from  his  father,  the  late  Duke  of  Glou- 
cester, brother  to  his  late  most  gracious  majesty 
George  the  Third.  Proud  seemed  the  people  of 
Everton  to  have  the  royal  stranger  among  them,  even 
for  so  brief  a  space.  The  late  Duke,  at  the  time  of 
his  visit  to  Everton,  was  an  old  man,  whose  frame, 
constitution,  or  system  was  evidently  what  is  called 
"breaking  up :  "  he  sat  his  horse  well,  but  there  was 
a  stooping  forward,  and  a  general  appearance  of  debi- 
lity about  him,  which  plainly  told  that  old  Time's 
scythe  was  very  nearly  making  towards  him  that  last 
and  fatal  evolution  which,  under  Death's  direction,  is 
aimed,  without  distinction,  at  prince  and  peasant ;  the 
duke  died  soon  after  his  visit  to  Everton. 

As  before  mentioned,  it  was  in  the  year  1804  that 
the  late  Mr.  Drinkwater  made  an  attempt  to  have  the 
old  custom  of  walking  the  boundaries  revived;  he 
collected  a  posse  of  old  and  young,  and  had  them 
led  round  the  entire  boundary  lines ;  the  names  of 


374  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

the  principal  witnesses  are  recorded  as  follows  :  Wm. 
Robinson,  gent. ;  Edmd.  Mawdsly,  gent.;  Robt.  Fos- 
ter, servant ;  Wm.  Halliday,  publican ;  Thomas 
Adamson,  gent. ;  and  John  Lyon,  formerly  constable 
of  Everton ;  all  of  whom  are  now  living  in  the  town- 
ship. 

From  the  year  1804,  the  affairs  of  the  township 
continued  to  run  so  smoothly  as  to  present  no  event 
that  calls  for  remark,  until,  in  the  month  of  January, 
1809,  the  place  was  visited,  and  considerably  damaged, 
by  a  storm ;  no  lives,  however,  were  lost  in  the  town- 
ship on  that  occasion. 

In  the  year  1811,  the  people  of  Everton  were  much 
disturbed,  not  to  say  alarmed,  at  a  report  that  govern- 
ment intended  to  establish  barracks  in  the  very  heart 
of  their  hitherto  quiet  and  delightful  township :  the 
place  selected  was  St.  Domingo  ;  but  why  so  is  inex- 
plicable; for  St.  Domingo-house  was  ill  calculated 
commodiously  to  receive  many  of  the  common  soldiery. 
Officers,  indeed,  would  have  found  its  conveniences 
little  inferior  to  those  of  a  palace ;  but  why  the  thirty 
statute  acres  of  land  forming  that  estate  were  required 
"puzzles  comprehension."  It  may  be  that  Prince 
Rupert  and  Prince  William  had,  by  their  sojourns  at 
Everton,  stamped  on  the  place  a  character  of  military 
fitness ;  be  that,  however,  as  it  may,  the  project  pro- 
gressed, and  sorely  were  the  peaceful  and  respectable 
inhabitants  aggrieved;  meetings  were  called,  and  a 
deputation  was  sent  from  Everton  to  the  proper 
authorities,  in  London ;  common  sense,  prudence,  and 


HISTORICAL  SUMMARY.  375 

even  sound  policy,  were  enlisted  and  sent  in  company 
with  the  Everton  delegates,  to  the  powers  that  then 
ruled  British  affairs;  hut  they,  together  with  the  worthy 
delegates  themselves,  returned  from  their  mission  un- 
successful, disappointed,  and  chagrined :  there  was,  it 
seems,  stronger  reasoning  or  greater  interest  hehind 
the  curtain,  therefore,  the  St.  Domingo  estate  was 
purchased  for  barrack  purposes.  It  is  stated  here, 
for  barrack  purposes,  hut  the  purchase  was  never  made 
effectively  useful. 

To  shew  how  much  the  people  of  Everton  and  its 
vicinity  were  alarmed  and  aggrieved  at  the  idea  of 
barracks  heing  established  at  the  St.  Domingo  estate; 
the  following  concise  and  compressed  account  is  given 
of  the  efforts  and  proceedings  of  the  inhabitants  of 
that  and  the  neighbouring  places. 

On  the  27th  November,  1811,  a  numerous  meeting 
of  the  inhabitants  of  Everton  and  the  neighbouring 
parts  took  place  at  the  Everton  coffee-house,  to  take 
into  consideration  a  measure  contemplated  by  govern- 
ment to  purchase  St.  Domingo  house  and  the  lands 
of  that  estate,  with  an  intention  to  convert  the  same 
to  barrack  purposes.  The  resolutions  passed  at  that 
meeting  were  in  substance  as  follows : 

"  That  the  establishment  of  barracks  at  St.  Domingo 
could  be  viewed  in  no  other  light  than  as  an  enor- 
mous grievance,  likely  to  be  injurious  to  property,  and 
destructive  of  the  comforts  of  the  neighbourhood. 

"  That  immense  sums  had  been  invested  in  forming 
valuable  villas,  near  to  the  contemplated  establishment. 


376  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

"  That  the  meeting  had  been  assured  by  the  pro- 
prietor of  St.  Domingo  house  and  lands  he  was  will- 
ing to  forego  the  profit  to  arise  unto  him  from  the  sale 
of  that  estate,  and  of  his  readiness  to  absolve  govern- 
ment from  the  purchase  thereof. 

"That  the  thanks  of  the  meeting  be  conveyed  to 
Wm.  Ewart,  Esq.  for  his  consistent,  disinterested, 
and  honorable  conduct. 

"  That  these  resolutions  be  presented  to  the  Honor- 
able Commissioners  by  Colonel  Stanley,  and  that 
copies  be  presented  to  the  Commander-in-chief,  the 
Right  Honorable  Spencer  Perceval,  the  Earl  of 
Derby,  J.  Blackburn,  Esq.,  M.P.,  General  Dirom, 
and  the  Mayor  of  Liverpool." 

Soon  afterwards  another  meeting  was  held  by  the 
same  class  of  persons  at  the  same  place,  on  which 
occasion  W.  Earle,  Esq.,  (the  chairman)  stated  "  that 
the  letters  from  Lord  Derby  and  the  members  of 
Parliament  were  very  cool,  and  not  at  all  satisfactory, 
excepting  that  from  Lord  Stanley,  who,  it  would  appear, 
had  taken  some  pains  to  persuade  the  barrack-board 
to  relinquish  their  intentions  at  St.  Domingo." 

A  letter  from  Mr.  Ewart  was  read,  in  which  it  was 
stated,  that  the  bargain  with  government  had  been 
completed  for  £26,383  6s.  8d.,  with  leave  for  govern- 
ment to  relinquish  the  bargain ;  but  Mr.  Ewart  hoped 
that  the  people  of  Everton  would  remunerate  him  for 
any  loss  of  interest  which  he  might  sustain. 

A  letter  from  General  Dirom  was  read,  in  which 
was  stated,  reasons  why  St.  Domingo  had  been 


HISTORICAL  SUMMARY.  377 

selected  for  the  intended  purpose.  The  persons 
assembled  at  the  meeting  stated  it  to  be  their  opinion, 
that  St.  Domingo  had  been  selected  on  account  of  the 
splendid  mansion  erected  on  it.  William  Earle  and 
William  Statham,  Esqs.  were  requested  to  proceed  to 
London  with  the  resolutions  of  the  meeting,  and  also 
to  state  the  value  of  the  villas  and  lands  about  St. 
Domingo ;  and  they  were  desired  to  use  their  best 
endeavours  to  induce  the  barrack-board  to  alter  their 
plan. 

A  committee  of  the  following  gentlemen  was 
formed,  and  Messrs.  Byrom  and  Eyes  were  directed 
to  make  a  plan  of  the  township,  and  to  estimate  the 
value  of  lands  and  houses  therein. 

COMMITTEE. 


Mr.  Earle, 
Mr.  Rowe, 
Mr.  W.  Appleton, 
Mr.  Carson, 
Mr.  Robinson, 

Mr.  Campbell, 
Mr.  Houghton, 
Mr.  Alherton, 
Mr.  Brown, 
Mr.  Mather, 

Mr.  Bateman, 
Mr.  Harding, 
Mr.  Lorimer,  &c. 
&c. 

Finally,  a  subscription  was  commenced,  and  eight 
or  nine  of  the  first-named  gentlemen  subscribed  each 
thirty  pounds.  These  efforts  of  the  people  of  Everton 
and  neighbourhood  proved  fruitless;  barracks  were 
established  at  St.  Domingo ;  but  in  a  short  time  after- 
wards, government  found  the  place  either  unfit  or 
unnecessary  for  their  purpose,  for  on  the  4th  January, 
1813,  the  late  George  Rowe,  Esq.,  (in  the  absence 
of  the  chairman,  W.  Earle,  Esq.)  called  a  meeting  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  neighbourhood  of  St.  Domingo 


378  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

to  submit  to  them  a  proposal  from  government,  that 
they  should  be  permitted  to  re-purchase  the  premises 
bought  from  Mr.  Ewart,  on  the  terms  of  the  original 
sale.  On  the  5th  January,  1813,  the  parties  called 
upon  met,  and  declined  to  be  purchasers  on  the  terms 
offered  by  the  barrack-department,  and  that  board 
afterwards  offered  the  premises  at  public  sale.  A  few 
lots  were  sold  within  the  year  in  which  the  offer  was 
made,  but  not  until  somewhat  recently  have  the  com- 
missioners disposed  of  the  whole. 

With  the  view  and  hope  to  enliven,  in  some  mea- 
sure, a  dull  theme,  the  following  verses  are  inserted ; 
they  are  said  to  have  been  written  by  the  late  Sil- 
vester Richmond,  Esq. 

THE  DAMES  OF  EVERTON  TO  WM.  E T,  ESQ. 

Come  forth,  all  ye  females  of  Everton-hill, 

Ne'er  shall  women  be  wronged,  and  their  clappers  lie  still ; 

Let  us  tell,  one  and  all,  these  proud  lords  of  creation, 

That  we  cannot  submit  to  unjust  domination : 

And  unless  they  will  straightway  express  their  contrition, 

Maids,  widows,  and  wives,  all  will  counter-petition. 

A  barrack,  my  girls,  which  these  men  think  so  frightful, 

Is  just  what  we  want — O  a  barrack's  delightful ! 

We  shall  never  stir  out,  be  it  good  or  bad  weather, 

But  quite  certain  to  meet  a  cockade  or  a  feather : 

And  these  terrible  men,  to  our  husbands  alarming, 

So  far  from  a  bug-bear,  to  us  are  quite  charming ; 

I'd  give  all  I'm  worth  in  the  world,  girls,  by  jingo  ! 

For  a  summer-night's  ramble  about  St.  Domingo. 

All  the  bands  will  be  playing,  the  captains  saluting, 

O !  such  drumming  and  fifing,  such  fiddling  and  fluting  ! 

And  instead  of  a  fusty  old  brown-coated  varlet, 

We  shall  have,  at  command,  a  smart  fellow  in  scarlet. 


HISTORICAL  SUMMARY.  379 

What  a  difference,  ye  gods  !  from  an  ale-drinking  clown, 

Who  quart  after  quart  every  night  guzzles  down  ! 

Is  the  sot,  who  returns  from  the  club  half  seas  over, 

Fit  to  prove  a  kind  husband,  or  make  a  good  love,r  ? 

But  the  captain's  all  life,  full  of  fire  and  politeness, 

With  a  beautiful  hand  of  an  exquisite  whiteness, 

Gives  a  pressure  quite  gentle,  but  full  of  expression, 

And  manoeuvres  his  eyes  and  fine  teeth  at  discretion. 

Then  he  woos  all  our  senses,  in  accents  so  tender, 

That,  delighted,  our  hearts  we  with  transport  surrender. 

When  spousy  comes  home,  he  does  nothing  but  gorge  ye 

With  the  rise  of  Sea  Island,  or  fall  of  Bow'd  Georgia  ; 

Or  else  tells  us  in  triumph,  and  makes  a  bravado, 

Of  what  money  he  gained  by  the  last  muscovado ; 

And  sometimes  exults — though  you'd  think  it  a  quiz, — 

To  see  "  ashes  looks  up,  and  because  rums  is  riz," 

From  such  frograms  lets  turn  to  a  prospect  more  dear, 

Embroidered  huzzar,  or  the  tall  grenadier, 

Who  always  are  ready  by  actions  to  prove 

That  they  bravely  can  fight,  and  with  energy  love. 

Then  join,  all  ye  damsels,  who  feel  well. inclined, 

Let  us  tell  Mr.  E — t  a  piece  of  our  mind, 

That  if  any  longer  our  wishes  are  crost, 

In  a  blanket,  ere  long,  he  may  chance  to  be  tost ; 

For  in  spite  of  George  Rowe,  or  the  Colonel  so  brave, 

A  barrack  we  like,  and  a  barrack  we'll  have : 

Nor  shall  Statham's  bright  genius  our  faculties  blind, 

Though  supported  by the  double  refined, 

And fit  for  nothing  I  wot  on 

But  chewing  tobacco,  and  picking  of  cotton. 
Then  pray,  Mr.  E — t,  sit  down  well  contented, 
For  women  will  not  have  their  plans  circumvented ; 
And  in  times  like  the  present,  believe  it  or  not, 
Five  thousand  good  pounds*  are  not  easily  got. 

In  the  year  1812,  an  event  occurred  which  gave 

*  The  profit  or  gain  by  the  sale. 


380  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

greater  brilliance,  activity,  and  interest,  than  any 
scene  or  event  that  had  ever  previously  happened  at 
Everton.  On  the  12th  August,  1812,  Mr.  Sadler 
ascended  in  his  balloon  from  the  Pilgrim-villa,  at 
Everton.  An  account  has  been  given,  so  correctly 
and  explicitly,  of  this  ascension,  that  it  were  scarcely 
possible  to  introduce  a  better  version  into  these  pages; 
the  following,  therefore,  is  extracted  from  Gore's  news- 
paper of  the  13th  August,  1812. 

"  The  weather  being  uncommonly  fine,  an  immense 
concourse  of  people  assembled  at  Everton  to  witness 
the  ascension  of  the  intrepid  Mr.  Sadler. 

"Nothing  could  possibly  exceed  the  grandeur  of 
the  scene ;  the  numbers  of  people  present  could  not 
have  been  less  than  70,000,  and  amongst  them  were 
noticed  the  beauty  and  elegance  of  Liverpool  and  its 
environs.  The  balloon  was  inflated  within  an  en- 
closed area,  which  was  partitioned  off  into  three  divi- 
sions, into  which  upwards  of  2000  persons  were 
admitted  at  different  prices. 

"The  balloon  commenced  inflating  at  ten  o'clock, 
and  during  the  process  a  band  of  music  from  H.  M.  S. 
Princess  attended.  The  inflation  was  completed  soon 
after  two  P.M.,  and  a  little  before  three  o'clock  the 
ascent  took  place. 

"  The  balloon  rose  slowly,  the  effect  was  sublime  and 
graceful;  the  aeronaut  travelled  in  the  south-east  direc- 
tion, and  descended  safely  in  a  field,  at  a  short  distance 
from  Derby  chapel." 

In  the  month  of  October  following,    Mr.  Sadler 


HISTORICAL  SUMMARY.  381 

attempted  to  cross  the  Irish  Channel,  from  Dublin  to 
England,  but  fell  into  the  sea,  off  the  coast  of  North 
Wales;  had  he  proceeded  a  few  leagues  farther,  he 
might  probably  have  descended  in  Everton ;  he  was 
picked  up  in  safety  by  a  Manx  fishing-boat. 

The  year  1812,  was  also  remarkable  at  Everton, 
in  the  projection  and  commencement  to  construct  the 
first  church  erected  in  the  township,  but  of  this  under- 
taking the  needful  has  been  stated  in  the  section  of 
General  Observations ;  and  some  material  matter  on 
this  subject  will  be  found  in  the  Appendix  annexed  to 
this  treatise.  The  people  of  Everton  have  never  been 
tardy  in  displaying  their  genuine  loyalty  and  patri- 
otism ;  on  most  great  occasions  they  have  promptly 
and  cordially  come  forward,  simultaneously  with  their 
neighbours,  to  express  and  demonstrate  their  joy  at 
all  national  victories :  it  was  on  one  of  such  occasions, 
in  the  year  1813, — the  epoch  of  Bonaparte's  first 
serious  discomfiture, — that  the  people  of  Everton  very 
properly  determined  not  to  continue  the  dangerous 
and  disagreeable  practice,  usual  on  such  occasions,  of 
illuminating  their  houses;  but  in  lieu  thereof,  they 
proceeded  to  raise  a  fund,  to  be  chiefly  expended  in 
giving  a  brilliant  display  of  fire-works,  and  whatever 
the  residue  might  be  to  give  unto  the  poor.  Accord- 
ingly, in  December,  1813,  a  notice,  of  which  the 
following  is  a  copy,  was  placarded  in  various  parts  of 
the  township : — 

"  Fire-works  at  Everton,  in  lieu  of  an  illumina- 
tion.— The  inhabitants  of  Everton  give  notice,  that 


382  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

they  will  manliest  their  participation  in  the  general 
joy  of  the  kingdom  at  the  great  and  decisive  victories 
that  have  been  achieved  by  the  arms  of  Great  Britain 
over  the  common  enemy,  by  a  grand  display  of  fire- 
works (in  lieu  of  an  illumination),  to  commence  at  five 
o'clock  in  the  evening  of  Tuesday,  the  14th  instant, 
near  the  Everton  coffee-house. 

"Everton,  9th  December,  1813." 

At  the  appointed  time,  in  the  field  which  the  north 
end  of  Shaw-street  now  intersects,  the  fire-works  were 
exhibited,  to  the  satisfaction  of  a  vast  body  of  specta- 
tors ;  and  the  residue  of  the  subscription  was  put  to  a 
much  better  use,  that  of  bestowing  many  a  comfort  to 
the  poor,  at  that  inclement  season. 

In  the  year  1814,  at  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants, 
it  was  ordered  that  a  pinfold,  with  a  cottage  adjoining 
thereto,  should  be  constructed  at  the  north-east  angle 
of  the  mere-bank ;  and  subsequently,  it  was  ordered 
that  the  lord's  rent  and  breck-silver  should  be  paid 
out  of  the  rent  of  the  said  cottage,  as  has  been  already 
stated  in  this  treatise. 

In  year  1815,  it  became  necessary  to  have  the 
paupers  of  the  township  mustered  at  the  coffee-house, 
and  accordingly,  on  Whit-monday  of  that  year,  they 
were  summoned  by  the  constable  of  Everton,  and 
appeared  at  the  coffee-honse ;  but  nothing  remarkable 
accrued  from  the  inspection,  except,  indeed,  that  the 
measure  was  the  first  step  which  led  to  the  separation 
of  Everton  from  the  copartnery  in  the  workhouse  at 
Ormskirk. 


HISTORICAL  SUMMARY.  383 

Under  the  direction  of  Charles  Okill,  Esq.,  the 
boundaries  of  Everton  were  walked  and  examined,  on 
the  13th  November,  1816,  and  Mr.  Okill  performed 
his  public  duties  so  meritoriously  this  year,  as  to 
receive  the  thanks  of  the  inhabitants :  his  method  of 
numbering  the  vouchers  produced  at  the  examination 
of  his  public  accounts  is  worthy  of  being  followed  by 
all  public  functionaries  of  Everton.  To  Mr.  Richard 
Powell,  in  1818,  public  thanks  were  also  given,  for 
his  able  conduct  in  office,  as  surveyor  of  the  high- 
ways. 

In  the  year  1817,  various  elaborate  statements 
were  entered  in  the  town's  book,  touching  the  before- 
named  separation  of  Everton  from  copartnery  in  the 
Ormskirk  workhouse.  The  following  are  the  names 
of  the  townships  formerly  concerned  in  the  said 
establishment : 

1  Everton.  7  Melling.  13  Bretherton. 

2  Bootle.  8  Downholland.  14  Tarleton. 

3  Little-Crosbie.  9  Bickerstaff.  15  Simmonswood. 

4  Lidiate.  10  Latham.  16  Croston. 

5  Halsall.  11  Burscough. 

6  Maghull.  12  Scarisbrick. 

On  the  final  arrangement  of  this  separation,  thanks 
were  voted  to  the  late  John  Hind,  Esq.  for  his 
indefatigable  exertions  in  the  management  of  the 
tedious  affair.  ^i  / 

In  the  same  year,  the  inhabitants  of  Everton 
invited  six  of  the  neighbouring  townships,  viz.,  Wal- 
ton, Kirkdale,  Linacre,  Fazakerly,  Litherland,  and 


384  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

Bootle,  to  unite  with  them  iii  forming  a  place  of  general 
accommodation  for  the  paupers  of  the  above  townships; 
but,  to  the  several  written  applications  of  Everton,  the 
township  of  Kirkdale  only  gave  a  written  reply,  which 
was  a  negative  to  the  proposal;  from  the  silence  of 
the  other  townships,  their  dissent  was  also  considered 
to  be  tacitly  given. 

On  the  22d  January,  1818,  the  paupers  of  Ever- 
ton, viz.,  four  women  and  two  children,  were  removed 
from  Ormskirk  to  the  township  of  Everton,  with  their 
wearing  apparel,  beds,  and  bedding,  and  the  governor 
of  the  workhouse  at  Ormskirk  was  paid  all  charges 
that  were  due  to  that  time.  Ever  since  that  period, 
and  until  the  present,  the  in-door  paupers  have  been 
lodged  with  Mr.  John  Lyon,  whose  late  wife  most 
kindly  and  assiduously  did  all  in  her  power  to  soothe 
the  pangs,  and  allay  the  bitterness,  that  generally 
attends  pauperism. 

What  would  our  ancestors  and  predecessors  of  a 
century  ago  have  said  to  a  law  bill  of  £107  12s.  2d.? 
yet  such  a  bill  was  paid  on  the  township's  account  in 
the  year  1819.  But  a  much  wiser  measure  was  soon 
afterwards  taken  into  consideration ;  for  in  the  same 
year  encouragement  was  given  to  an  able  surveyor  to 
take  a  survey,  and  draw  an  accurate  map,  of  the  town- 
ship ;  Mr.  W.  S.  Sherwood  took  the  business  in 
hand,  and  the  fruits  of  his  labour  are  a  very  clever 
survey,  and  a  handsome  chart  or  delineation  of  Ever- 
ton. The  work  is  done  by  master-hands,  both  as  to 
the  survey  itself,  and  the  engraving  thereof;  and  long, 


HISTORICAL  SUMMARY.  385 

very  long,  will  Mr.  Sherwood's  map  be  highly  prized, 
and  found  useful  to  all  persons  interested  in  the  good 
old  township.  It  is  lamentable,  however,  to  have  to 
state,  that  the  artist's  time  and  talent  were  not  pro- 
perly requited ;  it  is  said,  that  in  the  result  he  lost  by 
his  labour,  and  very  considerably  so,  although  the 
township,  in  consideration  of  Mr.  Sherwood's  labour 
and  ability,  voted  the  sum  of  thirty  guineas,  which 
was  paid  to  him  from  the  township's  funds  :  comment 
on  such  a  result  is  unnecessary.  This  map  was  com- 
pleted and  published  in  the  year  1821.  The  town- 
ship had  formerly  employed  a  person  to  survey  Ever- 
ton,  who  accordingly  did  survey  it,  and  with  very 
considerable  accuracy,  as  a  comparison  with  Mr. 
Sherwood's  map  proves ;  but  the  plan  of  survey  was 
never  engraved,  though  many  MS.  copies  of  the  map 
as  then  drawn  up  are  still  in  existence :  in  one 
respect,  the  map  of  1790  has  a  manifest  advantage, 
for  in  that  map,  each  separate  lot  in  the  township  has 
its  whole  measurement  marked  thereon. 

Two  inhabitants  of  Everton  are  annually  chosen  to 
fulfil  the  duty  of  assessing  the  township  for  taxation ; 
and  it  may  be  as  well  to  state,  that  by  a  minute  made 
20th  March,  1824,  a  sum  of  £3  is  directed  to  be 
paid  to  all  future  assessors  of  Everton — a  measure 
highly  proper,  seeing  that  the  assessors  have  to  make 
one  or  more  journeys  to  Prescot  during  the  year  of 
their  assessorship.  The  time  perhaps  is  not  distant 
when  steps  may  be  again  taken  touching  the  mode  of 
raising  the  parish  church  rate :  it  will  be  seen,  in  the 

2c 


386  HISTORY  OF  EVERTON. 

Appendix,  that  some  proposals  were  made,  in  the  year 
1826,  to  alter  the  present  mode  of  raising  the  money 
required  for  the  parish  church  of  Walton ;  but  it  will 
be  well  to  continue  the  present  practice,  so  long  as  it 
can  be  legally  sustained,  otherwise  Everton's  share  of 
such  leys  will  be  enormous,  when  compared  with  the 
quotas  that  other  townships  would  be  called  upon  to 
pay,  under  the  new  or  proposed  mode,  which  differs 
little  from  that  under  which  the  county  rates  are  at 
present  raised. 

The  history  of  Everton  is  now  brought  to  a  close, 
and  it  is  probable  that  a  long  period  may  elapse  ere 
another  pen  historically  treats  of  this  humble  town- 
ship ;  humble,  no !  it  has  cast  its  humility  aside,  and 
is  destined  to  bear  a  proud  name,  when  tens  on  tens 
of  thousands  of  human  beings  shall  have  domiciled 
themselves  within  its  boundaries:  anticipation  pro- 
phesies that  Everton  will  grow  with  the  growth  of 
Liverpool,  and  in  after  ages  largely  participate  in  the 
wealth  and  fame  of  that  eminent  commercial  town. 


APPENDIX. 


THE  CUSTOMS  OF  THE  MANOR  OF  WEST  DERBY. 

"  Henry,  by  the  grace  of  God,  King  of  England,  &c.,  to  the 
High  Steward  of  the  County  Palatine  of  Lancaster,  that  now  is 
or  hereafter  shall  come,  send  greeting : 

"  Know  ye  that  by  the  advice  of  our  council  we  of  our  espe- 
cial grace  have  granted  unto  our  liege  tenants  of  our  towns  of 
Darby  and  Wartree,  that  they  and  their  heirs  may  have  and 
hold  their  lands  and  tenements  in  our  said  towns  for  a  reason- 
able fine  to  be  made  at  every  of  their  first  entry  thereof,  accord- 
ing to  the  discretion  of  our  steward  there  for  the  time  being ; 
and  that  the  heirs  of  our  said  tenants  be  not  put  out  of  their  said 
lands  and  tenements  for  no  stranger,  if 'they  will  make  a  reason- 
able fine,  at  the  discretion  of  our  said  steward  for  the  time 
being;  and  we  will  and  command  you  that  you  suffer  our  said 
tenants,  and  their  heirs,  to  have  and  enjoy  our  said  grant  and 
grace,  without  making  or  suffering  to  be  made  or  to  attempt 
therein  to  the  contrary  of  our  aforesaid  grant.  Given  under  the 
seals  of  our  Duchy  of  Lancaster,  at  our  palace  of  Westminster, 
the  15th  February,  in  the  second  year  of  our  reign. 

"These  are  the  customs  granted  by  Lord  William  de  Ferrers, 
late  Earl  of  Derby,  and  afterwards  by  all  other  lords  after  him, 
being  to  his  tenants  of  Darby  and  Wartree.  First,  it  is  lawful  for 
every  tenant  of  said  towns  to  give  or  sell  all  their  messuages, 
lands,  and  tenements  in  the  aforesaid  towns  unto  whom  they  will 
whilst  they  live,  by  witness  of  the  steward  or  bailiff  of  the  manor 
of  the  said  towns,  and  in  case  that  when  and  so  often  as  any  of 
the  lands  or  tenements  so  sold,  and  whosoever  doth  buy  the  land, 


388  APPENDIX. 

shall  give  unto  the  lord  a  fine  at  his  entry  for  the  same ;  and  in 
case  that  any  tenant  shall  sell  any  lands  or  tenements  to  one  or 
other,  and  he  will  not  restore  the  same  to  him  that  bought  it,  and 
if  it  be  proved  by  the  aforesaid  steward  and  bailiff,  he  will  be 
put  in  possession  of  the  said  lands  and  tenements  in  the  court 
which  bought  the  said  lands  and  tenements,  without  any  con- 
tradiction or  let  of  him  that  sold  the  same;  and  in  contrariwise, 
if  said  buyer  will  take  any  lands  or  tenements  which  he  bought 
of  any  other  tenant,  he  shall  be  put  in  possession  in  the  court,  if 
he  that  doth  buy  the  same  do  reasonably  agree  with  the  steward; 
and  in  case  that  he  cannot  reasonably  agree  with  the  steward 
aforesaid,  the  lands  and  tenements  aforesaid  shall  then  remain 
to  him  that  sold  it.  And  in  case  that  if  any  land  or  tenement 
be  in  the  hands  of  the  sovereign  lord  the  king  after  the  death 
of  any  tenant,  they  shall  not  be  forfeited  into  our  sovereign  lord 
the  king's  hands  for  ever,  which  were  not  taken  at  the  first 
court,  or  at  divers  courts  then  next  following.  Likewise,  such 
heirs  which  take  such  lands  and  tenements  shall  make  fine 
according  to  the  discretion  of  the  steward,  if  it  be  found  by 
inquisition  before  the  same  stewards  taken.  And  it  is  lawful 
for  every  tenant  of  the  aforesaid  towns  to  fall  and  sell  the  wood 
and  underwood  growing  upon  the  tenement  in  the  aforesaid 
towns  without  licence  of  any  of  the  lord's  officers :  and  the 
said  tenants  shall  not  be  charged  to  repair  their  houses,  but 
according  to  their  own  will  and  pleasure.  And  if  any  land  or 
tenement  be  sold  by  any  tenant,  and  not  taken  at  the  first  court, 
nor  at  divers  courts  then  next  following  after  letting  or  demise- 
ing  of  the  same,  they  shall  not  be  passed  into  the  lord's  hands ; 
but  they  that  shall  take  the  same  shall  make  fine  according  to 
the  consideration  of  the  steward,  if  it  be  taken  by  inquisition 
-before  him.  And  if  any  tenant  of  said  towns  shall  be  sick,  and 
shall  send  for  the  bailiff  of  said  towns  to  come  unto  him  and  to 
hear  what  a  demise  he  will  make  of  his  said  lands  and  tene- 
ments, or  of  any  part  thereof,  and  the  said  bailiff  will  not  come, 
nor  cannot  be  found  at  home,  nor  any  other  in  his  place  and 


APPENDIX.  389 

stead  there  being  put,  then  it  shall  be  lawful  for  said  tenants  of 
said  towns  to  sell  their  lands  or  tenements  unto  whom  they  will, 
by  witness  of  their  neighbour  of  the  said  town ;  and  when  and 
so  often  as  any  tenant  shall  sell  any  land  or  tenement  unto  any 
other,  they  shall  make  fine  unto  the  lord.  And  in  case  that  if 
any  tenant  shall  sell  any  goods  or  chattels  to  any  one  or  other 
dwelling  in  the  towns  aforesaid,  and  he  doth  say  that  the  same 
payment  shall  be  always  paid  by  them  at  the  form  and  at  the 
usual  terms  of  the  said  towns,  and  if  it  be  behind  and  not  paid, 
then  it  shall  be  lawful  for  the  said  bailiff  the  chattels  of  the 
said  tenant  not  paid  to  empound  until  it  be  paid.  And  there 
is  some  land  which  shall  not  be  taken  in  the  court  but  by  testi- 
mony and  witness  of  the  bailiff,  that  is  to  say,  oxland.*  And 
if  any  land  or  tenement  were  let  by  any  tenant  to  another,  or  to 
a  stranger,  and  he  which  hath  it  cannot  agree  of  fine,  the  said 
tenement  shall  be  given  unto  him  which  had  first  delivered  the 
same  estate  that  was  before  letten.  And  if  any  exchange  be 
made  between  the  neighbours  of  the  said  towns  of  any  lands 
equally,  they  shall  not  make  fine  unto  the  lord  for  the  aforesaid 
exchange ;  and  if  any  land  or  tenement  of  the  aforesaid  towns 
of  any  of  the  tenants  be  taken  for  their  children,  by  the  fathers 
or  mothers,  the  said  children,  during  their  fathers'  and  mothers' 
lives,  shall  not  possess  the  profits  of  said  land  or  tenement. 
And  if  any  wife  have  any  land  or  tenement,  she  shall  not  take 
upon  her  any  profit  of  the  said  land  or  tenement  during  her 
husband's  life,  without  the  goodwill  of  her  said  husband ;  nor 
yet,  she  shall  not  challenge  nor  alien  the  said  land  or  tenement. 
And  there  shall  be  holden,  in  Darby,  two  halmotts — and  at  the 
first  halmott  every  tenant  of  the  said  towns  shall  make  his  ap- 
pearance. And  know  ye,  that  the  father  for  the  son,  daughter, 
and  wife  may  make  answer;  and  likewise,  the  wife  make  answer 
for  the  husband.  And  at  these  two  halmotts,  all  the  lands  and 
tenements  which  are  bought  and  sold  shall  be  entered  and  taken 

*  Supposed  common  or  waste,  open  to  all. 


390  APPENDIX. 

before  the  steward,  the  bailiff,  and  the  tenants  of  the  said  towns, 
and  not  unto  other  courts.  And  no  steward,  nor  bailiff,  nor  any 
other  officer,  shall  possess  any  service  nor  perquisites  of  the 
tenant  of  the  said  town,  without  their  goodwill.  And  if  any 
tenant  hold  any  land  or  tenement  which  are  counted  naughty 
land,  those  good  lands  shall  not  be  sold  nor  let  for  worse,  lest 
peradventure  that  naughty  land  do  not  suffice  to  sustain  the 
fine.  And  if  any  tenant  of  the  said  towns  shall  be  impleaded 
in  any  wapentake  at  the  suit  of  any  stranger,  and  he  that  is 
impleadeth  doth  deny  by  inquisition,  the  half  of  the  inquisition 
shall  be  taken  from  the  town  where  he  remaineth  impleaded. 
And  no  bailiff  shall  make  any  summons  to  any  tenant  of 
the  said  towns  between  any  stranger  parties  complainant 
and  defendant  in  any  wapentake.  And  no  bailiff  of  a 
wapentake  shall  gather  any  perquisites  of  the  tenants  of 
the  said  towns,  but  only  upon  their  own  goodwill.  And 
know  ye  that  the  beasts  of  the  said  tenants  of  the  said 
towns  ought  to  feed  in  common  pasture  with  their  beasts  in 
Woolton,  Walton,  Kirkby,  Liverpool,  Childwall,  Huyton,  and 
Roby ;  and  in  contrariwise,  as  it  hath  been  found  by  divers 
inquisitions  taken  before  Rt.  Pleasington,  late  chief  steward 
unto  John,  late  Duke  of  Lancaster. 

And  if  any  tenant  of  the  said  towns  shall  be  impleaded 
at  the  suit  of  any  other  tenant  of  a  plea  of  debt,  this  is  the 
duty  of  the  fine-lands  :  *  he  which  oweth  debt  shall  not  be  at 
the  law  but  at  the  inquisition." 

The  following  notes,  which  have  been  accidentally  fallen  in 
with  in  MS.,  are  certainly  more  pertinent  to  the  affairs  of  the 
township  of  Wavertree  than  of  Everton,  but  there  is  some 
matter  in  these  notes  that  may  prove  useful  information  to 
persons  interested  in  the  township  of  Everton. 

" that  this  manor  of  Wavertree  is  a  distinct  manor  as  well 

as  township  from  West  Derby,  and  hath  its  common  separate 

*  Or  firm-lands,  or  farm-lands  (the  writing  is  difficult  to  be  understood). 


APPENDIX.  391 

and  distinct  (as  Everton),  appears  from  the  following  reasons, 
viz. : — 

"  First,  It  hath  meers  and  bounds,  both  of  the  inlands  and 
wastes,  which  are,  and  by  former  perambulations  have  been, 
well  known. 

"Secondly,  Pays  a  distinct  rent — and  Wavertree  holds  a 
distinct  and  separate  court  from  West  Derby,  and  have  their 
own  jurors,  and  make  their  own  orders,  impose  fines  for  misde- 
meanours done  within  their  own  manor,  and  have  often  pre- 
sented and  fined  the  tenants  and  inhabitants  of  West  Derby,  as 
well  as  others,  for  getting  gorse,  &c.  upon  the  common  of  Wa- 
vertree.* 

"Thirdly,  That  the  constable  and  other  officers  of  all  the 
three  towns  are  different — every  town  within  itself,  and  have  no 
power  or  authority  in  another. 

"  Fourthly,  That  their  leys  and  taxes  are  also  distinct,  and  in 
every  thing  are  divided,  distinct,  and  separate  from  each  other, 
as  any  remote  towns  or  manors  whatsoever — save  only  that 
West  Derby  and  Everton  hold  but  one  court,  and  that  the  jury 
at  every  court  are  collected  out  of  both  townships,  three  out  of 
Everton,  and  the  rest  out  of  West  Derby" 


EXTRACTS  FROM  AN  ABLE  TREATISE  ON  COPYHOLDS, 
COURTS  BARON,  &c. 

"A  manor  consists  of  demesnes  and  services  and  a  court- 
baron  as  incident,  and  this  must  be  time  out  of  memory  ;  for  a 
manor  cannot  begin  at  this  day,  because  a  court-baron  cannot 
now  be  made.  The  court-baron  is  the  chief  prop  and  pillar  of 
a  manor,  for  that  no  sooner  faileth  but  the  manor  falleth  to  the 
ground. 

*  "Everton  hath  not  a  separate  court  or  separate  jurors,  but  is  joined 
with  that  of  West  Derby ;  whereas  the  manor  of  Wavertree  is  distinct 
from  both,  and  in  a  different  parish." 


392  APPENDIX. 

"  A  copyholder  is  tenant  by  the  copy  of  court- roll,  and  is  the 
only  tenant  in  law  who  holds  by  the  copy  of  any  record,  deed, 
or  charter.  The  title  or  estate  of  the  copyholder  is  entered  into 
the  roll,  whereof  the  steward  delivereth  him  a  copy ;  from 
whence  he  is  called  a  copyholder. 

"A  copyholder  originally  had  (in  judgment  of  law)  but  an 
estate  at  will,  yet  custom  had  so  established  and  affixed  his 
estate,  that  this  by  the  custom  of  the  manor  is  descendible,  and 
his  heirs  shall  inherit  it ;  so  that  the  custom  of  the  manor  is  the 
life  and  soul  of  copyhold  estates;  for  without  a  custom,  or  if 
they  break  their  custom,  they  are  subject  to  the  will  of  the  lord. 
And  by  custom  a  copyholder  is  to  have  his  land  according  to 
the  custom,  as  he  who  had  freehold  at  common  law. 

"As  a  copyhold  is  created  by  custom,  so  it  is  guided  by 
custom. 

"  A  copyholder  doth  not  derive  his  estate  out  of  the  estate  or 
interest  of  the  lord  only,  for  then  the  copyhold  estate  should 
cease  when  the  estate  of  the  lord  determined ;  but  the  copy- 
holder is  in  by  custom. 

"A  copyhold  interest  cannot  be  transferred  by  any  other 
assurance  than  by  copy  of  court-roll  according  to  the  custom, 
and  that  by  surrender. 

"A  surrender  (where  by  a  subsequent  admittance  the  grant 
is  to  receive  its  perfection  and  confirmation)  is  rather  a  mani- 
festing the  grantor's  intentions,  than  a  passing  away  any  interest 
in  the  possession ;  for  till  the  admittance  the  lord  taketh  notice 
of  the  grantor  as  tenant,  and  he  shall  receive  the  profits  of  the 
land  to  his  own  use,  and  shall  discharge  all  services  due  to  the 
lord ;  but  yet  the  interest  is  in  him,  but  secundum  quid,  and  not 
absolutely ;  for  he  cannot  pass  away  the  estate  to  any  other,  or 
make  it  subject  to  any  other  incumbrance  than  it  was  subject 
to  at  the  time  of  the  surrender — neither  is  any  manner  of  inte- 
rest vested  in  the  grantee  before  admittance,  for  if  he  enters  he 
is  a  trespasser  and  punishable  in  trespass,  and  if  he  surrender 
to  the  use  of  another  this  surrender  is  void.  Yet  the  grantee 


APPENDIX.  393 

cannot  possibly  be  defrauded  or  deluded  of  the  effect  of  this 
surrender ;  for  if  the  lord  refuse  to  admit  him  he  is  compellable 
to  do  it  by  a  subpoena  in  the  chancery,  and  the  grantor's  hands 
are  ever  bound  from  the  disposing  of  the  land  any  other  way, 
and  his  mouth  ever  stopped  from  revoking  or  countermanding 
his  surrender. 

"A  copyholder  may  surrender  his  copyhold  by  attorney, 
in  case  he  be  in  prison,  sick  in  bed,  or  beyond  the  seas, 
but  he  may  not  be  admitted  by  attorney,  because  he  must 
do  fealty  in  person.  And  as  in  admittances  upon  sur- 
renders, so  in  admittances  upon  descents,  the  lord  is  used 
as  a  mere  instrument,  and  no  manner  of  interest  passeth  out 
of  him,  and  therefore  neither  in  the  one  nor  in  the  other  is 
any  respect  had  unto  the  quality  of  his  estate  in  the  manor; 
for  whether  he  hath  it  by  right  or  by  wrong  it  is  not  material, 
these  admittances  shall  never  be  called  in  question  for  the  lord's 
title,  because  they  are  judicial  acts  which  every  lord  is  enjoined 
to  execute. 

"  Admittances  by  the  lord  to  a  wrong  person  is  void  and  of 
no  effect ;  and  in  such  case  the  lord  must  make  a  second  admit- 
tance which  must  be  to  the  right  person,  and  he  will  enjoy  the 
estate,  and  the  first  have  nothing. 

"  The  custom  of  every  manor  is  compulsory  in  point  of 
admittance :  for  either  upon  pain  of  forfeiture  of  their  copyhold, 
or  of  incurring  some  great  penalty,  the  heirs  of  copyholders 
are  inforced  to  come  into  court,  and  be  admitted  according  to 
the  custom,  within  a  short  time  after  notice  given  of  their  ances- 
tor's death. 

"  Custom  is  the  very  soul  and  life  of  copyhold  estates,  for 
without  custom,  or  if  they  break  their  customs,  they  are  at  the 
lord's  will. 

"  An  unreasonable  custom,  as  for  the  lord  to  exact  unreason- 
able fines  for  a  tenant  to  cut  down  and  fell  timber  trees,  or  the 
like,  is  void. 

"By  the  custom,  the  lord  as  chancellor  in  his  own  court 


394  APPENDIX. 

may  dispose  of  a  copyhold  estate  when  the  tenant  leaves  it 
uncertain. 

"  Under  tenant,  although  he  be  but  tenant  for  a  year,  yet 
he  shall  have  all  the  benefits  and  privileges  which  the  copy- 
holder himself  might  have,  and  he  is  distrainable  for  the  rents 
and  services  due  and  payable  to  the  lord ;  for  the  charge  lies 
upon  the  land,  and  not  upon  the  person. 

"  A  custom  which  is  contrary  to  the  public  good,  or  injurious 
to  a  multitude  and  beneficial  only  to  some  particular  person,  is 
repugnant  to  the  law  of  reason,  and  consequently  void. 

"All  customs  shall  in  construction  be  taken  strictly,  and 
shall  not  extend  beyond  the  words  of  it. 

"  Any  man  once  taken  tenant  in  any  tenement  by  the  stew- 
ard of  the  court,  in  (he  presence  of  the  homage,  by  the  lord's  con- 
sent, and  having  a  copy,  although  by  reason  of  the  absence  of 
the  said  lord  the  same  be  not  signed,  yet  the  tenant  having  such 
a  copy  shall  enjoy  the  same  according  to  the  custom  of  the 
manor. 

"Every  customary  tenant,  holding  by  copy  of  court-roll  or 
otherwise,  ought  to  pay  his  or  her  rents  due  to  the  lord  of  the 
manor  annually,  at  a  time  fixed  and  certain. 

"  The  lord  of  the  manor  cannot  take  in  and  inclose  any  part 
of  the  common,  and  demise  the  same  to  any  tenant,  without 
the  whole  consent  of  the  homage. 

"  The  general  custom  allows  a  copyholder  to  make  a  lease 
for  one  year. 

"  In  most  manors,  if  a  copyholder  hath  leased  out  his  copy- 
hold for  more  than  a  year  and  a  day  without  the  lord's  licence, 
it  is  a  forfeiture  of  his  copyhold :  or  if  for  a  lesser  term  he  hath 
let  it  out  to  an  under-tenant,  and  hath  not  retained  enough 
thereof  in  his  own  hands  whereby  the  lord's  dues  may  be  fairly 
and  justly  answered,  he  is  liable  to  be  amerced.* 

*  It  is  almost  superfluous  to  add,  that  in  most  manors  it  is  a  forfeiture 
if  a  copyhold  be  transferred  under  a  wrong  denomination  or  tenure. 


APPENDIX.  395 

"  If  any  copyholder  hath  committed  felony,  and  thereof  hath 
been  lawfully  convicted,  it  is  a  forfeiture  of  his  copyhold. 

"  Where  there  is  no  custom  to  guide  copyhold  estates,  they 
shall  be  directed  by  the  rules  of  the  common  law. 

"If  a  copyholder  die,  his  heir  within  age,  the  heir  is  not 
obliged  to  come  to  any  court  during  his  nonage  to  pray  admit- 
tance or  render  his  fine.  Also,  if  the  death  of  the  ancestor  be 
not  presented,  nor  proclamation,  it  is  not  any  detriment,  al- 
though he  be  of  full  age. — Leon  Rep.  1  par.fol.  128. 

"  Copyholder  may  dig  for  marl  without  any  danger  of  for- 
feiture, but  he  ought  to  lay  it  upon  the  same  copyhold  land, — 
Winch,  p.  8. 

"  Custom  of  a  manor  is,  that  if  a  copyhold  descends  to  any 
man,  that  proclamation  be  made  at  three  several  courts,  that  he 
shall  come  in  to  be  admitted ;  and  if  he  come  not  in,  it  shall  be 
a  forfeiture  to  the  lord  :  yet  an  infant  shall  not  be  comprehended 
within  this  custom,  for  he  by  intendment  of  law  is  not  at  dis- 
cretion to  make  his  claim. — 8  Rep.  100,  LetcKford's  Case. 

"  Common  which  was  first  gained  by  custom,  and  annexed 
to  the  customary  estate,  is  lost  when  the  copyhold  is  extinct 
and  enfranchised. 

"  If  a  copyholder  accept  a  lease  for  years  of  his  copyhold,  by 
this  his  copyhold  is  destroyed,  whether  it  be  immediately  from 
the  lord  or  mediately — as  was  Lane's  Case,  2  Rep.  16  b;  for  a 
copyhold  interest,  and  an  estate  for  years,  of  one  and  the  same 
land,  may  not  stand  together,  in  one  and  the  same  person  at 
one  time,  without  confounding  the  lesser ;  and  if  one  of  them 
ought  to  be  determined,  it  ought  to  be  the  copyhold  estate, 
which  being  customary  only,  is  less  than  the  estate  at  common 
law." 

It  is  absolutely  incumbent  on  heirs,  trustees,  and  devizees, 
to  have  themselves  admitted,  and  take  up  their  titles  to  Everton 
copyhold  estates.  And  they  ought  to  do  so  at  the  first  oppor- 
tunity that  reasonably  offers  itself.  Purchasers  and  mortgagees, 
of  course,  should  also  see  to  the  timely  accomplishment  of  such 


396  APPENDIX. 

matters,  that  is,  at  the  first  halmote  court  that  may  be  held 
after  the  occurrence  of  transfer  transactions  ;  and  sometimes  it 
will  be  prudent  not  to  delay  until  the  annual  Whitsuntide 
courts  are  held,  but  rather  to  call  special  courts  to  serve  the 
urgency  of  the  occasion. 


EXTRACTS  FROM  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  MANOR  OF  WEST 
DERBY. 

"  The  manor  of  West  Derby  consists  of  the  manor  and  town- 
ship of  West  Derby  and  the  townships  of  Wavertree  and  Ever- 
ton,  wherein  there  are  divers  copyhold  tenants,  who  do  hold 
their  copyhold  lands  to  them  and  their  heirs  by  copy  of  court 
roll,  according1  to  the  custom  of  the  manor,  and  by  rent  and  fine 
certain,  (that  is  to  say)  by  the  payment  to  the  lord  of  the  manor, 
upon  every  alienation  or  descent,  one-third  part  of  the  ancient 
yearly  rent,  that  is  and  always  has  been  paid  for  the  lands  so 
aliened  or  descended,  and  no  more :  these  fines  are  collected  by 
the  steward  or  his  deputy  upon  the  admittance  of  the  tenant, 
and  being  but  small  are  usually  bestowed  upon  him  for  his 
pains  in  keeping  the  court  and  the  rolls ;  but  the  yearly  rents 
of  the  copyhold  lands  in  the  townships  aforesaid  are  of  more 
value,  and  are  a  fee-farm  belonging  to  the  crown,  and  not  long 
ago  purchased  by  Sir  John  Worden,  to  whom  they  are  yearly 
paid,  and  do,  together  with  some  small  chief  rents  paid  by 
several  freeholders  in  the  manor  and  township  aforesaid,  amount 
to  £145  6s.  7d.  or  thereabout;  but  it  is  said  there  is  a  deduc- 
tion of  £40  out  of  said  £145  6s.  7d.,  and  deducted  from  Sir 
John  Worden,  which  is  due  to  the  lord  of  the  manor  for  the 
time  being."  It  goes  on  to  state,  among  other  things,  that 

"  In  West  Derby  there  are  18  tenants,  who  pay  (13  hens  included)£4    0    3$ 
In  Wavertree  16  ditto,       ditto  ditto  552 

In  Everton  20  ditto,       ditto         £300? 

and  for  16  hens. .080$ 

What  follows  seems  to  be  dry  matter  for  a  law  brief.     There  is 


APPENDIX.  397 

no  date  in  the  body  of  this  paper,  and  the  latter  part  of  the 
portion  above  given  is  somewhat  vague  and  indefinite ;  there  is 
however,  in  another  hand,  an  endorsement  on  the  paper  which 
bears  date  1720. 


The  king's  "fifteens/1  or  "fifteenths,"  and  " subsidies,"  are 
two  of  the  oldest  rates  in  the  kingdom,  and  were  superseded  by 
the  land-tax  acts  of  parliament.  Fifteenths  are  named  in  Mag- 
na  Charta  as  a  concession  to  the  king  of  one-fifteenth  of  their 
moveable  goods,  &c.  In  the  course  of  time  difficulties  arose  in 
the  collection  of  the  fifteenths,  and  they  dwindled  down  in  the 
amounts  collected,  from  £120,000  to  £70,000;  at  length  the 
land-tax  abrogated  and  superseded  the  fifteenths  altogether. 
Everton  paid  14s.  to  the  king's  fifteenths.  For  particulars, 
touching  these  and  other  leys,  see  Gregson's  "Fragments  of 
Lancashire." 


The  following  is  copied  from  the  Mercury  newspaper  of  1 825, 
viz. — "In  1066,  the  lands  in  Lancashire,  lying  between  the 
rivers  Ribble  and  Mersey,  yielded  to  the  crown  £145  2s.  2d., 
and  to  the  thanes  £4  14s.  8d.  (the  pound  was  then  equal  to 
£110  of  the  present  money;)  in  1814,  the  same  lands  were 
assessed  at  £2,569,761."  It  may  be  added  that  the  rate  for  the 
county  was  £3,106,009  in  1815,  and  £4,214,634  in  1829. 


COPY  OF  AN  OLD  DEED  IN  POSSESSION  OF  S.  ELLISON,  ESQ. 

.  "  To  all  Christian  people  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come, 
or  the  same  shall  see,  hear,  read,  or  understand,  I,  Thomas 
Greaves,  of  Everton,  in  the  county  of  Lancaster,  yeoman,  son  and 
heir  of  Richard  Greaves,  of  Everton  aforesaid,  yeoman,  deceased, 
do  send  greeting  to  the  Lord  God  everlasting,  Whereas  I,  the 
the  said  Thomas  Greaves,  and  Jane,  now  the  wife  of  me  the 


398  APPENDIX. 

said  Thomas  Greaves,  by  a  written  surrender  by  me  formally 
granted  and  acknowledged  without  the  court,  according  to  cus- 
tom of  the  manor  of  West  Derby,  surrendered  into  the  hands 
of  the  lord  of  the  said  manor  all  and  singular  those  closes, 
closures,  crofts,  and  parcels  of  land  herein  hereafter  mentioned 
and  expressed,  situate,  lying,  and  being  in  Everton  aforesaid, 
that  is  to  say,  the  two  Mosses,  and  the  Ryecroft,  or  by  what 
other  name  or  names  they  or  any  of  them  be  called  or  known, 
containing  in  the  whole  by  estimation  two  acres  and  a  half  of 
land  or  thereabouts,  be  they  more  or  less  land,  customary  the 

acre and  some  time  heretofore  of  the  customary  inheritance 

of  the  said  Richard  Greaves,  together  with  all  singular  ways, 
water,  entries,  passages,  profites,  and  commodites  whatever  to 
the  aforesaid  closes,  closures,  crofts,  and  parcels  of  lands  belong- 
ing or  in  anywise  appertaining,  with  all  and  singular  their 
appurtenances,  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  Edward  Williamson,  of 
Liverpool,  in  the  said  county  of  Lancaster,  mercer,  his  heirs  and 
assigns  for  ever,  under  and  upon  certain  provisos,  conditions, 
and  agreements  in  the  said  surrender  contained,  as  in  and  by 
the  aforesaid  surrender,  provisos,  conditions  and  agreements 
(relation  being  thereto -had)  more  plainly  and  at  large  may 
appear.  Now,  know  ye  that  I,  the  said  Thomas  Greaves,  for 
divers  good  causes  and  considerations  me  moving,  and  especially 
for  and- in  consideration  of  fifteen  pounds  of  lawful  English 
money  already  paid  unto  me,  the  said  Thomas  Greaves,  by  the 
aforesaid  Edward  Williamson,  before  the  sealing  of  these  pre- 
sents, whereof  and  wherewith  I  the  said  Thomas  Greaves  do 
acknowledge  and  confess  myself  fully  satisfied,  contented,  and 
fully  paid.  And  thereof,  and  of  every  part  or  parcel  thereof,  do 
clearly  acquit,  exonerate,  and  discharge  the  said  Edward  Wil- 
liamson, his  heirs,  executors,  administrators,  and  assigns,  and 
any  of  them,  for  ever ;  by  these  presents  have  demised,  released, 
and  perpetually  quit  claim ;  and  by  these  presents,  for  me  and 
my  heirs,  do  remit,  release,  and  perpetually  quit  claim  unto  the 
said  Edward  Williamson,  his  heirs  and  assigns  for  ever,  all  and 


APPENDIX.  399 

singular  the  provisos,  conditions,  and  agreements  in  the  afore- 
said surrender  mentioned  or  contained,  and  all  the  benefits 
and  advantage  of  me  the  said  Thomas  Greaves  thereby  received; 
and  also  all  the  right,  estate,  title,  use,  interest,  claim,  and  de- 
mand of  me  the  said  Thomas  Greaves,  of,  in,  and  to  the  afore- 
said closes,  closures,  crofts,  and  parcels  of  land,  called  the  two 
Mosses  and  the  Ryecroft.  And  of,  in,  and  to  the,  and  to  all 
and  singular  other,  hereditaments  and  premises  before  men- 
tioned to  be  surrendered,  with  their  appurtenances,  so  as  neither 
I  the  said  Thomas  Greaves,  nor  my  heirs,  nor  any  of  us,  shall 
or  may  at  any  time  or  times  hereafter  have  or  challenge  to  have 
any  right,  title,  interest,  claim,  or  demands  of,  in,  or  to  the  afore- 
said closes,  closures,  crofts,  or  parcels  of  land,  and  other  the 
hereditaments  and  premises  before  mentioned  to  be  surrendered, 
with  their  appurtenances,  or  of,  in,  or  to  any  part  or  parcel 
thereof.  But  shall,  of,  and  from  all  and  eveiy  accon.  of  right, 
title,  claim,  interest,  or  demand  of,  in,  or  to  the  same,  or  any 
part  or  parcel  thereof,  be  from  henceforth  excluded  and  barred 
for  ever  by  these  presents. 

"  In  witness  whereof  I,  the  said  Thomas  Greaves,  have  here- 
unto put  my  hand  and  seal,  the  18th  day  of  July,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  God  1549. 

"  Thomas  Greaves,  his  x  mark." 


COPY  OF  AN  ORDER  FOR  ONE  SOLDIER  TO  BE  PROVIDED 
BY  EVERTON. 


"  Whereas  the  town  of  Everton  was  formerly  charged  with 
the  making  and  providing  of  two  foot  soldiers,  whereby  the 
inhabitants  complayne  that  they  are  overcharged,  and  whereas 
it  appears  to  us  by  the  survey  of  Mr.  Thomas  Bum,  John 
Whitcliff,  and  Thomas  Moorcroft,  that  the  said  town  is  but  of 


400  APPENDIX. 

the  yearly  value  of  £55  2s. ;  we  therefore  order  that  the  said 
town  of  Everton  from  henceforward  be  but  charged  only  the 
providing  of  one  of  the  said  soldiers  with  arms  and  other  furni- 
ture. Given  under  our  hands,  the  day  and  year  above  said, 

"Edward  Fleetwood. 

"  William  Banks." 


DOCUMENTS  AND  OBSERVATIONS  TOUCHING  115  ACRES  OF 
LAND  LEASED  IN  1716,  BY  THE  LORD  (AND  TRUSTEES  OF 
THE  LADY)  OF  THE  MANOR,  TO  THE  COPYHOLDERS  OF 
EVERTON. 

Previous  to   the  execution  of  above  lease,  a  survey  of  the 
Everton  commons  was  made  by  James  Corless :  viz. — 

A.    R.   P. 

That  part  below  the  Beton  A  22  3  12 

The  middle  between  the  two  ways  pointing  to 

the  Beton B  13  0  19 

That  part  where  the  watering  pool  is C  8   1  20 

That  part  that  lieth  to  Walton-cop D  11  0  35 

The  narrow  part  below  the  enclosure E  1  1  13 

That  on  the  left  hand  from  Everton  to  Derby    ...  F  15  2  36 

That  on  the  right  hand  of  same  road  G  43  0  12 


115  2  27 

The  lease  being  completed,  the  copyholders  of  Everton 
parcelled  out  the  leased  lands  according  to  each  his  copyhold 
estate  in  Everton,  and  in  the  year  1729  a  "  particular  allotment 
of  the  land  leased  for  1000  years  in  1716,"  was  done  by  John 
Eyes. 

The  figures  on  the  left  denote  the  quantity  of  copyhold  or 
old  land  owned  by  each  individual ;  the  figures  and  italic  let- 
ters on  the  right  hand  are  attempts  to  identify  the  lots  with  the 
localities  of  the  map  of  the  year  1790 ;  and  the  capitals  refer  to 
Mr.  Corless's  survey. 


APPENDIX. 


401 


A.    R.  P. 

25  2  26    Henry  Halsall  had  allotted  to  him  of  new  land,  viz. 

A.  R.  P. 

1  close  by  Hill-side* 6  0  26  ..       A  8a,24c,&44a. 

1      ..      Hongfield 3020  ..       F  17  i.         [and  i. 

I      . .      Beacon-north    ..10138  ..       B  2c,  d,  e,f,  g,  ft, 

1      . .      Rake-lane  end  . .  6  0  20  . .       G  1  y,  and  z. 

1      . .      Guffot's-hey 0  0  35  . .       G  1  t. 

26  0  19 

16  3    7f  John  Seacome  allotted  him — 

1  close  by  the  Mere 3  0  25  ..       C  16/. 

1      . .      Beacon 2  2  22  . .       A  2  o,  and  p. 

1       . .       Coulson's 0  1  21  ..       A  50  a,  and  most 

1      . .      George  Croft    . .  0  3  21  . .       F         [likely  68  a. 

Livesley     32    0  ..       G  24  e,  and/. 

..      Rice   0029  ..       A  61  a. 

R.  Seacome  ....  0  1     6 

..      Hongfield 31     4  ..       F  16  e,  and  15  e. 

..      Sleeper's-hiU     ..316  ..       D  15  6. 

1      . .      Hongfield-bottom  0019  . .       E  16  c. 
I      ..      Halsall's-close  . .  0  1  33 
1      . .      John  Johnson  . .  0  1  27 

18  2  13 

0  0  26     George  Heyes  allotted  him — 

1  close  by  Greaves 01     1 

. .      Mere 1  3  22  . .       C  19  i . 

Beacon 1   1  27  . .       A  2  m,  and  n. 

. .      Hill-side    1  0  23  . .       A  46  a. 

Widdowson's    ..038  . .       A  15  q. 

2  . .      Whitefield,  (5, 4)  0  0    9  . .       G 

Sleeper's-hill  . .  2  0  33  . .  D  15  a. 

. .  End  Whitefield  .  0  0  28  . .  G  15  m. 

Butter-holes 30  8  . .  G  15  *. 

..  Bottom-hongfield  0  1  11  ..  E  15  c. 

11  1  10 

200    James  Johnson  allotted  him — 

1  close  by  Hill-side    1036  ..       A  2  I. 

1    . .    at  his  house  0212 

1    ..    by  Whitefield 003  ..       G  40  a. 

3  ..      Hongercroft,  (38,  ? 

2,  and  11  perches;  ..  >  u  * 

2  0  22 


54  2  19  Old  land. 


58  0  24  Leased  land. 


*  In  the  original  lease  the  acre  is  styled  of  the  "  large  measure  there  used. 
+  Another  account  gives  18*.  OR.  9p. 

2D 


402 


APPENDIX. 


54  2  19  Old  land  brought  forward. 


A. 

£8 


R.  P. 

0  24  Leased  land  do. 


620 


William  Williamson  allotted  him — 
A.  R.  P. 

1  close  by  Hill-side 2228 

I      ..       South-hongfield    1218 

1  ..      Hongercroft 0011 

2  ..      Whitefield,(9,18)0  0  27 
1  Round  hill   .     .    1  3  36 


6 


A  4  a,  and  9  a. 
..       F   17  A. 

F 
..       G   16ft. 

G  14  a. 
2    0 


410    John  Johnson  (Everton)  allotted  him — 

1  close  by  Corner-hey 0  2  21  23  c. 

I      ..      Butter-holes 205 

1       ..      Hill-side 132  12  e. 

4  1  28 

520     Samuel  Plumpton  allotted  him — 

1  close 52    0  G  18  d,  and  18*-. 

5  0  13     William  Rice  allotted  him — 

1  close  by  Hill-side   1  0  26  A  27  a. 

1       . .      South-hongfield.  114  F   20  y. 

1       ..      Bottom  do 0015  E  21  b. 

I       . .      Whitefield    0013  G  20  t. 

1       ..      Butter-holes....  2  2    6  G  20  e,  and/. 

5  0  24 

410     Thomas  Cliffe  allotted  him — 

1  close  by  Hill-side   2  0  35  A 

I      ..      Butter  holes 205  G  17  I. 

410 

620    John  Johnson  (Liverpool)  allotted  him — 

1  close  by  Kirkdale  land    ..  3  2  10  B  2  a,  and  6. 

1       . .      Hill-side     1  2  21  A 

1       . .      Kennyon's-house     1  1  27  F  45  a,  and  b. 

6  2  18 

310    Mary  Fabious  allotted  her — 

1  close  by  Kennyon's 1  0  30  E  21  e. 

1      . .      Kirkdale     2  0  10  A  33  «. 

3  1     0 

2  1  26     John  Pyke  allotted  him — 

1  close  by  South-hongfield 22    4  F   17  ft. 

200     Anthony  Molyneux  allotted  him — 

1  close  by  Newsham-lane     20     OG 

30     OR.  Johnson  and  Tarlton,  and  J.  Tarlton  allotted  them — 

1  close  by  Butter-holes  ....   100  G  14  a. 

1       ..      Hongfield 01     4  E    15  t. 

1       . .      Butter  holes 100  G  24  d. 

I      ..      Headless-cross  ..031  C 

305 


97  1   18  Old  land. 


101  1  23  Leased  land. 


APPENDIX.  403 

A.  R.    P.  A.    R.    P. 

97  1  18  Old  land  brought  forward.  101  1  23  Leased  land  do. 

100    Thomas  Henshaw  allotted  him — 

1  close     10     0 

f  2  0    0    R.  Seacome  allotted  him — 

1  close    20    8F 

020     Thomas  Phithian  allotted  him — 

1  close     02    0 

020     William  Harrocks  allotted  him— 

1  close 020 

020    Matthew  Gleave  allotted  him— 

1  close 020 

10  0  32    John  Rose  allotted  him— 

1  close  by  his  barn    0  2  29 

I      . .      Hill-side 2  0  20  A 

1      ..      Mere 206  C 

1       . .      Round-hill 230  G 

1      ..      Sleeper's-hill  ..  2  2  17  D 
10  0  32 


112  0  10  Total  old  land.  116  0  23  Total  leased  land. 


On  the  17th  July,  1715,  the  copyholders  signed  articles  of 
agreement,  fairly  and  equally  to  divide  the  lands  contracted 
for*  to  be  leased  for  1000  years  (receiving  to  the  extent  of 
their  respective  copyholds ;)  and  each  party  agreed  to  pay  his 
respective  share  of  the  twenty  shillings  per  acre  money  down, 
and  afterwards  one  shilling  per  acre  annual  rent. 

John  Seacome,  John  Rose,  John  Johnson, 

Henry  Halsall,  John  Johnson,  Daniel  Fabious, 

Thomas  Heyes,  Edward  Rice,  his  X     Ralph  Seacome. 
Rowland  Johnson,                   mark. 

*  The  contract  was  made  in  1714. 


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Thomas  Speakman 

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George  Goring  .  .  .  . 
William  Robinson  .  . 
Thomas  Reeve  .... 
John  Pyke  

William  Harding  .  . 

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APPENDIX. 


I"! 


1 
i 

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ed,  it  will  be  gi 
i  surveyor. 

•e 
to 

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be  obtain 
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« 
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16s. 
5  6 
land,  £25.—  County  Treasure 

S 

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1 

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5 

i  on  the  Brow,  21s. 
Do.  Is. 
5s. 

5s. 
Os. 
9s.  —  Surplusage  land  tax  coll 

e  pound  raised  for  the  leys  can 
.11  subsequent  years,  has  been 
tax,  68s.  5d.  —  John  Shannon, 

i.—  Breaking  pinfold,  10s.  6d.- 
tax,  54s.  Id.—  Error  21s. 

to 
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68  11  —Meredith,  £13. 
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APPENDIX. 


409 


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410  APPENDIX. 

(PAPER  IN  TOWN'S  CHEST  MARKED  No  79.) 

"  14th  June,  1723.  Mem.  At  a  meeting  at  Mary  Dale's, 
Low-hill,  by  the  trustees  for  West  Derby  and  those  for  Ever- 
ton,  to  compromise  a  dispute  touching  the  commons  at  Breck, 
it  was  demanded  by  the  West  Derby  trustees : — 

"1.  16  acres  of  said  Breck,  as  once  granted  to  Mr.  Roper,  to 
belong  to  and  be  in  West  Derby,  or  £20  per  acre  to  be  paid 
in  lieu  thereof. 

"  2.  Whereas  the  tenants  of  Everton  had  enclosed  all  said 
Breck  lands  except  about  5£  acres,  and  that  they  could  not 
conveniently  yield  the  land  on  the  terms  demanded,  it  was 
proposed  by  the  trustees  for  Derby  to  accept  so  much  as  is 
uninclosed  in  part  of  said  16  acres,  and  to  be  paid  £20  per 
acre  for  so  much  as  shall  make  that  up  16  acres. 

"3.  They  demand  that  Everton  agree  to  give  up  part  land 
and  part  money,  that  the  whole  16  acres  shall  be  esteemed  as 
land  lying  within  West  Derby,  to  be  set  out  and  bounded 
by  mere  stones,  and  shall  pay  tithes  and  taxes  with  Derby; 
but  agree  that  what  land  Everton  pays  for  shall  be  held  by  the 
tenants  of  Everton,  pursuant  to  their  lease  thereof. 

"  4.  They  propose  to  allow  Everton,  out  of  the  £20  per  acre, 
the  fine  paid  for  the  whole  16  acres,  and  to  pay  for  future 
lord's  rent  for  so  much  as  shall  be  allowed  them  in  land. 

"  5.  If  Everton  agrees,  articles  shall  be  drawn  up,  the  money 
paid  in  six  months  from  the  date  of  the  articles. 

"  6.  They  propose  said  articles  to  release,  &c.,  all  future  claims 
to  said  commons  called  Breck,  or  any  part  thereof,  or  to  any 
common  of  pasture,  or  other  right  there  whatever. 

"  Everton  required  time  to  consider  above  proposals,  and  on 
23d  June,  1723,  at  a  meeting  at  Childwall,  the  trustees  of 
Everton  agree  and  consented  as  follows : — 

"  Everton  agrees  to  allow  and  yield  to  Derby  all  that  part  of 
said  Breck  lying  open  and  uninclosed  before  Mr.  Livesley's 
house  and  John  Litherland's,  from  Rake-lane  and  to  Walton- 
lane  end,  containing  5 £  acres,  to  free  and  clear  from  any  fine  to 


APPENDIX. 


be  paid  or  allowed  by  Everton — Derby  only  to  pay  the  future 
lord's  rent  for  the  same. 

"  2.  Everton  agrees  to  pay  to  Derby  £200  for  the  remainder 
of  the  said  16  acres  inclosed  by  them,  free  from  all  demands, 
or  allowance  of  any  fine  to  be  paid  for  the  same. 

"  3.  They  agree  that  the  remainder  of  said  16  acres,  enclosed 
as  aforesaid,  shall  be  as  land  lying  within  West  Derby,  and 
shall  pay  tithes  and  taxes  with  Derby,  though  held  by  the 
tenants  of  Everton  by  virtue  of  their  lease,  &c. 

"  4.  They  agree  that  Mr.  Green  be  desired  to  draw  articles 
on  these  heads  with  all  convenient  speed,  and  to  pay  the  said 
£200  to  the  said  trustees,  at  six  months  after  perfecting  the  said 
articles,  by  the  said  trustees,  or  a  majority  of  the  whole. 

"  1763.        The  township  of  Everton  to  West  Derby, 

DR.  CR. 

To  16  acres  of  land  at  By  5f  acres  assigned  to 

£20  $•  acre £320    0    0  them  in  land   £102  10    0 

„   Leys  and  taxes  for  11  „  The  fine  for  16  acres 

acres  at  2s.  $•  acre        120  to  be  allowed  ....      17    0    0 

„  Exemptionfromrent 
of  5f  acres  assign- 
ed as  above 051^ 

„  Taxes  for  ditto....        0  10    0 
„  Balance..  .    200  16  10* 


£321     2    0 


£321     2    0 


"The  sum  of  £453  6s.  was  raised  (by  a  ley  of  £4  per  acre) 
30th  June,  1724,  to  pay  all  expenses  touching  this  lease. 


Henry  Halsall £102  13  0 

John  Seacome     72    4  6 

John  Rose    40  16  0 

George  Heyes 40  13  0 

William  Williamson. .  26    0  0 

Samuel  Plumpton ....  22    0  0 

William  Rice 20     6  6 

James  Johnson   8     0  0 

Thomas  Cliffe    17     0  0 

John  Johnson,  Senior  26     0  0 

Mrs.  Fabious  . .           .  13    0  0 


John  Pyke 9  13     0 

A.  Molyneux 800 

Johnson  and  Tarlton  . .  12    0    0 

Thomas  Henshaw    ....  4    0     0 

R.  Seacome 8    0    0 

Matthew  Gleave 2     0    0 

Thomas  Phithian     ....  200 

W.  Harrocks    2    0     0 

J.  Johnson,  Jun 17     0     0 


£453     6  0" 


412  APPENDIX. 

The  original  lease  referred  to  at  page  400,  was  signed  by  the 
following  persons : — 

John  Seacome,  Edward  Rice,  his  X  mark,    John  Pyke, 

Henry  Halsall,  John  Johnson,  Thomas  Henshaw, 

Rowland  Johnson,         Thomas  Cliffe,  Elizabeth  Seacome, 

Thomas  Heyes,  John  Johnson,  Ra.  Seacome. 

Note. — I  have  been  induced  to  mark  several  of  the  allotments  in 
the  document  drawn  up  by  Mr.  John  Eyes,  (p.  401,  et  seq.)  with  a 
figure  or  figures,  and  italic  letters  of  reference  to  the  map  given 
in  this  work.  The  references  will  be  found  correct  in  the  main, 
and  will  serve,  in  some  measure,  to  identify  and  connect  known, 
and  now  existing,  parcels  of  land  with  the  original  allotment  of 
the  lands  leased  in  1716.  The  capitals  shew  in  which  quarter 
of  Mr.  Corless'  survey  the  lands  allotted  in  1729  lay.  But  it  is 
presumed  Mr.  Corless  has  not  placed  the  portions  of  land 
correctly  in  the  several  quarters  he  points  out,  for  his  state- 
ment differs  from  Mr.  Eyes' ;  for  instance, — Mr.  Eyes  places 
upwards  of  28  acres  below  the  beacon,  but  Mr.  Corless  gives 
the  measure  of  that  quarter  only  22A.  3n.  12p. 

Although  I  have  attempted  to  reconcile,  in  some  degree,  the 
two  documents,  it  is  not  recommended  that  they  should  be  con- 
sulted on  nice  questions  touching  what  are  now  stated  to  be  lease- 
holds ;  such  questions  will  be  best  elucidated  by  consulting  the 
table  of  tenures  which  follows  the  map  attached  to  this  work ; 
where  all  leaseholds  (known  to  exist  at  present)  appear  in  their 
proper  order.  It  would  be  impossible  to  trace  all  the  original 
leasehold  lots  down  to  the  present  possessors.  The  ancient 
public  officers  of  Everton  were  very  neglectful  of  their  duty  in 
collecting  lord's  rent  and  breck-silver ;  but  the  1 15  acres  of  land 
were  leased  in  1716  to  the  copyholders  at  large,  or  as  a  body  ; 
therefore  the  township  was,  and  still  is,  bound  to  pay  the  lord 
his  lease  rents  and  breck-silver.  It  has  been  the  custom  to 
pay  those  dues  annually  out  of  the  town's  leys,  the  officers  at 
their  pleasure  calling,  or  not,  on  each  individual  lessee  for 
his  proportion :  but  of  late  an  excellent  plan  has  been  adopted, 
and  they  are  now  paid  out  of  the  rents  of  a  cottage  and  pinfold 


APPENDIX.  413 

near  the  mere.  That  very  circumstance  imposes  the  necessity 
of  framing  a  table  of  the  leaseholds,  for  the  rate  not  being  now 
collected,  matters  will  become  more  mystified;  therefore  it  is 
now  the  time  to  put  them  into  something  like  a  tangible  shape, 
and  it  is  hoped  some  advance  has  been  made  in  the  accom- 
plishment of  this  in  the  tables  affixed  to  this  work. 


Three  ley-lists,  &c.  are  here  exhibited,  to  shew  the  slenderness 
of  the  population  and  the  lowness  of  value  of  the  township  of 
Everton  at  the  times  these  leys  were  laid,  as  compared  with  the 
present  state  of  the  township's  population  and  value. 

1692. 
"  Rentally  of  Everton,  &c.  for  year  1692. 

William  Halsall £1     5     8  Jane  Williamson    ....  066 

William  Rice 0    5    5  Elizabeth  Woods   003 

James  Harrock   0     0     3  Thomas  Williamson . .  083 

James  Whalleys 0    3     3  John  Seacome     0     7     6£ 

Everton  breck-silver  . .  0  13     4  Thomas  Smalley     ....  0     1     0 

Humphrey  Hey  (or  Hoy)    044  Thomas  Huy  ton 002 

William   Williamson,  John  Johnson 0    3     6 

for  sheepfield  ....  039  Richard  Rosse 0     9     8f 

Ann  Johnson 0     3     6  John  Henshaw    0     2     0 

John  Seacome,  son  of  Robert  Leman     0     5     0 

R.  S 0     0     1  Daniel  Fabious   0    3     3 

John  Pike    0     2    5  R.  Seacome 0    0     9 

Henry  Carter 0     4     3  Henry  Merids 0     0     3 

Robert  Johnson 0     4     3  Elizabeth  Hoyl 0     0     7 

Thomas  B.  Johnson  . .  010 

Richard  Goodber    ....  006  In  original  added  to 

Thorn..  Hey   0     3     5                 £5  19  8  is £6     4    8" 

1714. 

"A  ley  lade  of  fore  pence  every  of  the  acre,  and  upon  housfs 
and  land  in  Everton,  as  folloth. 

Henry  Halsall £011     5*  Rit.  Roase  0  4    3* 

Thomas  Heyes     0     5    5  Benjamin  Milton    ....  0  2  10 

Rowland  Johnson  ....      0    4     9  William  Rise 0  211 

Thomas  Wilson 0     4     8  Robert  Johnson 0  2    3 

John  Seacome,  Jun.  . .      046  Samuel  Plumpton  ....  0  2    2 


414 


APPENDIX. 


Thomas  Honghall  ....     022 
Thomas  Slifts  ........     0    2     1 


Robt.  Seacome  (or  7£d.)     0    0    9f 
Thomas  Disley   0    0    4 


Humphrey  Hey  (or  Hoy)  015         Mrs.  Heyes 003 

Margaret  Seacome ....  0 

John  Johnson 0     1 

Margaret  Pike 0     1 

Danl.Foboyg(Fabious)  0     1 

Ellen  Hawkes..  0 


1     4 
2 
2 
l 

09 
Peter  Doueg    ........     0     1     6 

Thomas  Swift    .....     008 


Ellen  Rise   0     0     2 

Mary  Smoitlt 0     0     2 


William  Stargon  . 
Elizabeth  Mager  . 
H.Mager 009 


0    0 
0    0 


£3 


*1718. 
"  A  ley  for  the  pay  of  the  wall  for  the  Breck. 


Samuel  Plumpton £0    6  10 

Anthony  Molyneux   . .  026 

Henry  Halsall 1  12     1 

William  Williamson ..  0    8     1$ 

Mary  Williamson  ....  0  10    8$ 

Robert  Johnson 0    5    3$ 

Thomas  Cli&j 0    5     3$ 

M.  Woolfall    0    5    7 

Thomas  Heys 012    8f 

Thomas  Henshaw  ....  0     1     3 
Row.  Johnson  (or  6s.  3d  )    093 

John  Pyke 0    3    0£ 


John  Rose  ..........  0  13    4 

Edward  Rice  ........  065 

John  Seacome  ........  010    8 

John  Seacome,  Jun.  .  .  0     Oil 

Daniel  Fabious  ......  0    4    0 

Matthew  Gleave  ......  0     1     0 

William  Harrison  ____  0     0    7J 

Jeremiah  Cooke  ......  0    0    3$ 

John  Johnson  ........  0     4    4$ 

Ra.  Seacome  ........  0    0    3| 


£7    4    3 


Taking  the  names  as  they  appear  in  1692  and  1714,  as  the 
heads  of  families,  and  giving  to  each  family  five  inmates,  the 
population  would  be — for  1692,  135  persons,  and  for  1714,  140 
persons :  these  numbers  may  probably  be  somewhat  over  the 
mark,  as  perhaps  some,  but  very  few,  of  the  landholders  might, 
at  the  time  treated  of,  not  reside  in  the  township ;  it  is  thought 
best,  however,  to  give  here  the  probable  extreme  population, 
which  nevertheless,  numerically,  little  exceeded,  at  these  se- 
lected epochs,  the  number  of  inhabitants  dwelling  at  Everton 
at  the  time  Doomsday-book  was  compiled. 

*  These  are  not  all  the  inhabitants  who  dwelt  at  Everton  in  1718; 
the  ley  was  laid  for  a  partial  purpose,  on  copyholders  (or  land-hold- 
ers) only. 


APPENDIX.  415 

GOVERNMENT  ASSESSED  TAXES. 

1790..  £560    0    0  1820..  £4341  0  0*  1825..  £3759  0  0* 

1815..  3422    8     8  1821..     4716  0  0*  1826..     3902  0  0* 

1817..  3729  16     4  1822..     4664  0  0*  1827,.     4053  0  0* 

1818..  4019  10  10*  1823..     4210  0  0*  1828..     4287  0  0* 

1819..  4471     0     0*  1824..     3436  0  0*  1829..     5262  0  0* 

Whittaker,  in  his  "  History  of  40  miles  round  Manchester,"  states 
that  West  Derby  pays  TVs  of  county  rate. 

County  rate  assessment  of  Everton  in — 

1815  was  £9981— at  Id.  in  the  pound,  raised  £41  11     9 
1829    is    30139— at  Id.  in  the  pound,  raises   12511     7 

RENTAL  OF  EVERTON. 

In  1066  (as  Doomsday-book  evidences)  the  township  was  exempt  from 
Danegelt. 

In  1671  the  rental  of  Everton  was £55    2    0 

In  1769          do.  do 220911     6 

In  1815          do.  do.  9981     0     0 

In  1829         do.  do.  30139    0    0 

POPULATION  OF  EVERTON. 

In  1327  there  were  in  Everton  19  nativif — taking  these  families 

at  5  souls  each,  gives 95  persons. 


Ill     III,'—    11 

In  1714 

.ItA^     W  \. 

do. 

140 

In  1769 

do. 

253 

In  1790 

do. 

67 

do. 

370 

In  1801 

do. 

87 

do. 

190  males  and  309  females 

499 

In  1811 

do. 

140 

do. 

328     do.           585      do. 

913 

In  1815 

do. 

188 

do. 

at  6§  souls  to  a  house  is   .  . 

1222 

In  1821 

do. 

320 

do. 

760  males  and  1349  females 

2109 

In  1829 

do. 

579 

do. 

at  6J  souls  to  a  house  is  .  . 

3763 

To  afford  comparison,  the  following  brief  abstract  is  given  from  a 
table  of  Liverpool's  population  and  parish  rates : — 

*  These  are  the  sums  on  which  a  poundage  of  3d.  in  the  pound  has  been  paid, 
by  the  Receiver-general,  and  were  collected  between  the  5th  April  of  one  year,  and  the 
5th  April  o:  the  succeeding  year. 

+  Or  heads  of  families,  holding  24  oxgangs  of  land,  which,  at  13  acres  each  oxgang, 
gives  312  acres. 


416  APPENDIX. 

1682,  Population  of  Liverpool — 

4500,  and  there  was  raised  that  year  for  the  poor,  £800 
1700,  Ditto,      5700,  do.  do.      £50     2    4    ?        52     9     4* 

And  for  clothes,     2     7     Of  > 

1711,  Ditto,       8168,  do.  do.  350     0     0 

1721,  Ditto,     12000,  do.  do.  900     0     0 

1821,  Ditto,  118972,  do.  do.  54221     0     0 

In  1 821  the  parish  leys  in  Liverpool  were  equal  to  9s.  1  d.  each  inhabitant. 
In  1821  do.  in  Everton  were  equal  to    7     3  do. 

In  1821  £35296  was  expended  on  the  poor,  or  equal  to  5s.  lid.  each  inha- 
bitant of  Liverpool. 

In  1821  £245  10s.  2d.  was  expended  on  the  poor,  or  equal  to  2s.  3d.  each 
inhabitant  of  Everton. 


ANNALS  OF  EVERTON. 

BEING  ABSTRACTS,  IN  CHRONOLOGICAL  ORDER,  OF  THE  BY- 
ENACTMENTS  AND  TRANSACTIONS  OF  THE  INHABITANTS 
OF  THE  TOWNSHIP  OF  EVERTON,  DURING  THE  LAST  100 
YEARS. 

1733  A  ley  of  8d.  per  acre,  laid  on  all  improved  lands  of 

Everton,    for    church,    poor,    and    highways,    raised 
£7  Is.  Id.* 

1 734  The  beacon  was  repaired  by  the  township. 
1736  The  cock  of  the  dial  repaired. 

1741  The  boundaries  were  walked. 

1744  Spent  on  six  journeys  to  Prescot,  to  meet  the  commis- 
sioners about  the  Papists,  6s. 

—  Spent  at  three  times  searching  every  Papist  in  town, 

Is.  lOd. 

—  Paid  for  the  purchase  of  the  workhouse,  £5. 

—  Paid  for  cleaning  town's  arms,  2s.  lOd.  f 

1746  Spent  on  the  paviours,  when  they  began  to  pave  the  town. 

—  Paid  Croft  Williamson  for  the  town's  musquet. 

*  This  gives  rather  more  than  211  acres. 
f  Query,  if  in  anticipation  of  the  rebellion  ? 


. 

APPENDIX.  417 

*  T46  Paid  for  expenses  when  returned  Dible  Cailes,  Is.  6d. 

1749  All  the  town's  papers  ordered  to  be  collected  and  placed, 

in  some  chest,  to  be  provided  with  three  locks,  one  key 
to  be  in  possession  of  executor  of  Mr.  Halsall,  one  of 
George  Heyes,  and  one  of  John  Johnson,  Jun. ;  the 
inhabitants  to  have  power  to  call  for  the  keys,  but  the 
chest  not  to  be  opened  except  in  presence  of  two  suffi- 
cient copyholders,  inhabitants  of  the  township. 

—  All  persons  taking  sand  or  rubbish  out  of  the  lanes  to 

pay  2s.  6d.  per  load. 

—  Encroachment  of  individuals  on  the  high-roads  checked, 

and  the  acts  of  that  kind  then  already  done  ordered  to 
be  amended,  with  restitution  of  the  soil  that  had  been 
wrongfully  taken  away. 

1750  The  town's  chest  cost  26s. 

1754  Paid  for  repairing  court-house  at  Derby,  49s.  6d. 

—  24th  June.     "  It  is  agreed  at  a  town's  meeting,  held  this 

day,  that  whatsoever  person  a  free  or  a  copyholder, in  the 
town  of  Everton,  lets  any  cottage  to  any  person  what- 
soever not  having  a  settlement  in  the  township,  without 
the  consent  of  the  inhabitants  at  a  town's  meeting, 
shall  bear  and  save  the  township  harmless,  from  the 
expense  or  damage  accruing  to  the  said  township,  from 
such  person  or  persons  becoming  burthensome  to  the 
said  township  of  Everton." — Signed  by  13  persons. 
1759  Paid  for  paving  Loggerhead-lane,*  £8  13s.  lOd. 

—  Paid  Doctor  Livesley  for  setting  Alice  Knowles'  leg,  42s. 

—  At  a  town's  meeting — "It  is  further  agreed,  that  the 

person  that  serves  as  constable,  overseer,  and  super- 
visor, [together  with  the]  lord's  rent,  and  breck-silver, 
shall  be  paid  out  of  the  town's  ley;  and  that  John  Pyke 
be  appointed  the  officer  for  the  year  1759." — Signed 
by  10  persons. 

*  Now  Everton-brovv. 
2  E 


418  APPENDIX. 

1761  Paid  for  a  coffin  for  Witch  Nancy's  child,  Is.  6d. 

1763  Land   near  beacon   first  let  to  H.  Hardwar  (reserving 

a  foof-path  to  beacon),  at  2s.  6d.  per  annum. 

—  Netherfield-lane  land  let  to  R.  Lunt,  at  £3  3s.  per  annum. 

1764  Leave  given  to  Mr.  Halsall  to  remove  the  pinfold. 

—  Persons  enclosing  waste  land  to  pay  for  same  a  valuable 

consideration. 

1765  Land  near  beacon  sold  to  H.  Hardwar  (reserving  a  foot- 

path to  beacon),  for  84s. 

1768  Boundary  stones  ordered  to  be  fixed  round  the  mere.* 
1770  The  township  paid  J.  Seacome  £20  for  the  land  lately 

enclosed  where  the  bridewell  is — formerly  styled  Barn- 

on-the-hill  land. 

1 774  One  shilling  was  paid  to  a  may  son  for  squaring  the  dial — 

(supposed  of  the  cross.) 

1775  The  Netherfield-lane  land  rented  to  Joshua  Rose,  for  £4 

per  annum — reserving  the  water  to  John  Shaw.f 
1 777  The  Netherfield-lane  land  was  sold  by  the  township  to 
Joshua  Rose,  for  £140. 

1779  The  road  opposite  Capt.  Barker's  house  ordered  to  be 

widened  (near  Kirkdale). 

—  The  Brow-road,  from  the  coffee-house  westward,  ordered 

to  be  lowered  and  brought  to  three  inches  to  the  yard. 

1780  A  sum  ordered  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  township  to  be 

paid  by  Jos.  Rose,  out  of  Netherfield-lane  purchase,  to 
William  Gregson,  for  a  bill  of  moneys  expended  on 
the  roads  when  said  W.  Gregson  was  in  office. 

1785  The  cross  repaired,  and  Is.  paid  for  same. 

1787  The  bridewell  ordered  to  be  erected. 

—  The  pump  at  the  top  of  Roscommon-street  purchased 

from  Jos.  Rose  for  £21,  by  the  inhabitants  at  large  of 
the  township. 

*  Only  one  now  remaining — 1830. 

f  From  this  it  would  appear  to  be  the  low  land  on  the  west  of  what  are 
now  Mr.  Carson's  back  premises. 


APPENDIX.  419 

1787  Agreement  with  W.  Harper  to  give  and  take  land  oppo- 
site the  coffee-house,  to  improve  the  roads  there. 

—  55s.  5d.  paid  for  repairing  the  cross. 

1789  Mr.  Rowe,  Mr.  Carruthers,  and  Mr.  Harper  empowered 

to  dispose  of  some  waste  land  near  Kirkdale. 

1790  The  money  due  to  Mr.  Harper  for  improving  the  roads 

ordered  to  be  paid  unto  him. 

—  This  year  John  Shaw,  Esq.  was  the  holder  of  the  greatest 

quantity  of  land  in  the  township — his  landed  property 
in  Everton  being  35A.  In.  15P. 
1797  Grass  on  the  brow  first  sold,  for  5s, 

—  6s.  paid  for  going  to  Prescot,  to  get  instructions  about 

clocks  and  watches. 

—  42s.  paid  for  taking  account  of  clocks  and  watches. 

1799  Agreed  that  the  land-tax  assessors  shall  have  a  dinner 

provided  for  them  at  the  coffee-house. 

1800  Notice  given  to  Mr.  Bailiff,  of  Kirkdale,  to  take  down  his 

encroachment  on  the  high-road. — Mem.  Mr.  B.  after- 
wards purchased  the  land  from  Everton. 

—  The  road  in  the  village,  opposite  Miss  Chaffers'  and  Mr. 

Pyke's,  ordered  to  be  widened. 

1801  The  liberties  or  boundaries  between  Liverpool  and  Ever- 

ton examined,  and  marked  with  mere  stones,  by  some 
of  the  inhabitants  of  Everton,  together  with  the  Rev. 
Rector  Roughsedge,  and  John  Hogg,  constable  of 
Everton. 

1803  A  molecatcher  employed  by  the  township  at  £10  10s. 

per  annum. 

1804  A  ley  of  3d.  in  the  pound  ordered,  to  defray  a  balance 

owing  of  £21  6s. 
1804  A  posse  of  ancient  and  youthful  inhabitants  collected 

together  by  John  Drinkwater,  to  point  out,  examine, 

note,  and  mark  the  boundaries  of  the  township. 
1806  Everton  called  on  by  government  to  contribute  a  man  for 

the  army  of  reserve. 


420  APPENDIX. 

j 

1807  The  molecatcher  dismissed.     !  . 

1810  75s.  6d.  paid  for  five  volumes  of  Burn's  Justice. 

1811  Assistant-constables  ordered  to  be  employed,  to  keep  the 

peace  on  Sundays  and  holidays. 

—  Staffs  ordered  to  be  provided  for  said  assistant-constables. 

1814  A  pinfold  ordered  to  be  constructed  near  the  mere  at  St. 

Domingo. 

1815  The  poor  and  constable  rate  this  year  only  6d.  in  the 

pound. 

—  A  pump  ordered  to  be  put  in  the  public  well  in  the 

village. 

—  The  paupers  ordered  to  be  mustered  at  the  coffee-house, 

on  Whit- Monday. 

—  The  annual  meetings  ordered  to  take  place  at  4  o'clock 

in  the  afternoon. 

—  Extra  constables'  pay  to  be  3s.  a  day. 

1816  A  stove  and  pipe  was  procured  for  the  bridewell — cost 

£3  10s.  6d. 

—  Charles  Okill,  Esq.  caused  the  boundaries  to  be  peram- 

bulated ;  the  parties  present  were  C.  Okill,  James 
Green,  Thomas  Aspinall,  Richard  Powell,  John  Pyke, 
Edmund  Mawdsley,  Alexander  Thompson,  and  his 
sons,  William  Halliday,  Thomas  Pyke,  and  John  Lyon. 

1817  Thanks  voted  to  C.  Okill,  Esq.,  for  his  useful  exertions  in 

the  affairs  of  the  township. 

—  £17  14s.9d.  voted  to  pay  expenses  incurred  in  prosecuting 

four  footpads ;  and  liberty  given  to  the  chief  constable 
to  discharge  other  similar  charges  should  they  be  in- 
curred, but  limited  the  amount  not  to  exceed  £20. 

—  The  following  were  the  townships  holding  copartnery  in 

a  workhouse  at  Ormskirk:  Everton,  Bootle,  Little 
Crosbie,  Lidiate,  Halsall,  Maghull,  Melling,  Down- 
holland,  Bickersteth,  Latham,  Burscough,  Scarsbrick, 
Bretherton,  Tarlton,  Simmonswood,  Croston.  This 
year  Everton  gave  up  all  claim  to  this  workhouse,  and 


APPENDIX.  421 

separated  itself  from  the  copartnery  formally,  and 
according  to  law. 

1818  Thanks  to  Richard  Powell,  Esq.,  for  his  useful  exertions 

in  the  affairs  of  the  township. 

—  Thomas  Molyneux,  Esq.  and  Rev.  J.  Brookes,  as  magis- 

trates, apportioned  the  parts  of  Boundary-lane  to  be 
kept  in  repair  by  Everton  and  West  Derby  respectively. 

1819  This  year  a  law  bill  was  paid  by  the  township  of  Everton 

amounting  to  £107  12s.  2d. 

—  The  township  of  Everton  paid  3s.  for  posting  up  bills  to 

prevent  the  holding  of  Folly-fair. 

1820  An  extra  ley  of  2s.  Id.   in  the   pound,   on  the  whole 

amount  of  assessed  taxes  for  the  present  year,  was  laid, 
to  make  up  the  constable's  deficiency  of  £389. 

1821  Thirty  guineas  was  presented  to  Mr.  Sherwood  for  sur- 

veying the  township. 

1824  A  sum  of  £3  was  voted  to  be  thenceforth  paid  annually 
to  the  assessors  of  the  township  to  defray  their  neces- 
sary expenses. 

1826  The  road  near  the  house  of  Thomas  Shaw,  Esq.  widened 

considerably. 

—  The  inhabitants  of  Everton  (assembled  at  the  coffee-house) 

declined  to  consent  to  any  alteration  being  made  in  the 
mode  at  present  used  of  raising  the  parish  church  rate. 
See  the  town's  book,  where  copious  minutes  on  this 
subject  are  entered. 

1827  £79  17s.  2d.,  arrears  of  lord's  rent,  &c.  was  paid  to  the 

Marquis  of  Salisbury  by  the  constable  (and  treasurer) 
of  the  township ;  and  in  the  same  year  £6  8s.  4d.  was 
also  paid  to  the  Marquis  on  the  same  account:  this  latter 
sum  was  ordered  to  be  paid  out  of  the  rent  of  the  pin- 
fold cottage,  and  to  be  thenceforth  paid  out  of  rents  of 
same. 

1828  £5  was  paid  for  a  plan  and  specification  for  building  a 

new  bridewell. 


422  APPENDIX. 

1830  March  26.  At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants,  held  this  day, 
at  Halliday's,  the  Everton  coffee-house,  the  town's 
accounts  were  audited  and  passed.  It  appears  that  at 
this  time  there  are  fifty-one  paupers  receiving  relief 
from  the  township,  viz. — 3  aged  males,  20  aged  females, 
12  boys,  and  16  girls. 

—  Mr.  John  Me  George  and  Mr.  Edmund  Mawdsley  were 

re-elected  overseers  for  the  ensuing  year. 

—  Mr.  Thomas  Moore  and  Mr  James  Heaton  were  elected 

assessors  for  1830 — 1. 

—  The  cost  of  embellishing  the  bridewell  was  £35.     An 

effort  was  made  to  have  an  order  passed  to  discontinue 
the  allowance  paid  by  the  township  to  certain  Everton 
jurors  for  attending  the  West  Derby  court,  at  Whit- 
suntide; but  the  precedent,  usage,  and  custom  of  forty- 
four  years  were  urged  against,  and  made  the  means  of 
overruling  the  effort:  the  lowest  sum  paid  by  the  town- 
ship to  such  Everton  jurors  was  4s.,  in  the  year  1778 — 
the  highest  sum  so  paid  was  £6  10s.,  in  the  year  1827; 
last  year  the  Everton  jurors  were  paid  £3  by  the  town- 
ship for  their  attendance  at  the  Derby  court. 


CHURCH  OF  ST.  GEORGE,  EVERTON. 
Abstract  of  an  Act  of  Parliament  passed  in  the  year  1813. 

An   act  to   aid  and   authorise  certain  individuals  to  erect  a 
church  at  Everton. 

The  parish  church  of  Walton  being  distant,  and  no  church 
whatever  in  the  township  of  Everton,  it  became  necessary 
to  afford  better  accommodation  to  the  growing  population  of 
Everton  to  perform  their  pious  devotions;  and  the  sum  of 
£11,500  having  been  raised  in  subscription  shares  of  £100 
each,  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  church ;  and  James  Ather- 
ton,  Esq.  being  desirous  to  gratuitously  convey  and  relinquish 


APPENDIX.  423 

his  right  and  interest  in  certain  land  conveniently  situated  for 
said  church,  &c. ; 

An  act  was  passed  as  aforesaid,  in  the  year  1813. 

1.  Land  vested  in  trustees  for  the  purpose  of  building  a 
church — trustees  named,  *  John  Drinkwater  the  younger,  Colin 
Campbell,  Thomas  Tattersall  the  younger,  *Joseph  Toundrow, 
and  William  Wiat. 

2.  Election  of  new  trustees. 

3.  Materials  and  size  of  the  church. 

4.  Appropriation  of  a  pew  for  the  minister,  and  one  for  his 
servants;  and  also  a  pew  for  Mr.  Atherton,  and  one  for  his 
servants ;   and  one  hundred  sittings  for  the  poor. 

5.  The  committee  may  sell  all  the  other  pews  to  the  pro- 
prietors and  the  public. 

6.  Rents  of  pews  to  be  fixed;  not  to  amount  to  more  in 
the  whole  than  £400,  nor  less  than  £360  per  annum. 

7.  Beneficial  interest  in  the  seats  to  be  deemed  personal 
property,  and  assignable  and  deviseable  as  such. 

8.  For  the  recovery  of  pew  rents. 

9.  Nomination  of  minister  or  chaplain  vested  in  a  majority 
of  the  proprietors  for  thirty  years  from  the  time  of  passing  the 
act ;  but  if  the  minister  should  die  subsequent  to  the  said  term 
of  thirty  years,  and  previous  to  the  expiration  of  forty  years, 
then  the  further  right  of  nomination  of  a  minister  shall  be 
vested  in  the  proprietors  until  the  expiration  of  the  said  forty 
years.     After  the  right  of  nomination  of  the  proprietors  shall 
have  ceased,  then  the  presentation  or  nomination  of  a  minister 
is  vested  for  ever  in  the  patron,  having  the  advowson  of  the 
parish  church  of  Walton,  &c. 

1 0.  In  case  of  a  lapse  of  more  than  six  months  without  any 
nomination,  then  the  usages  of  the  laws  of  the  realm  are  to  be 
followed . 

12.  Meetings  appointing  churchwardens,  to  be  on  Thursdays 

Those  marked  thus  *  are  or  were  residents  of  Liverpool :  the  latter  is 
deceased. 


424  APPENDIX. 

annually  in  Easter  week:  two  persons,  who  are  proprietors 
of  seats  or  pews  shall  be  chosen  churchwardens ;  and  so  long  as 
the  right  of  nomination  of  a  minister  shall  remain  vested  in  the 
proprietors,  the  said  proprietors  shall  elect  both  churchwardens. 

13.  Duty  of  churchwardens,  and  application  of  pew  rents. 

14.  When  the  patron  presents  ministers,  then  the  proprietors 
shall  choose  one  churchwarden,  and  the  minister  the  other; 
and  in  case  of  the  death  of  a  churchwarden,  the  proprietors 
or  minister  shall  elect  another,  as  the  case  may  be. 

15.  Minister's  salary  fixed  at  £300  per  annum,  to  be  paid 
each  first  day  of  February,  and  each  first  day  of  August. 

16.  Recovery  of  minister's  salary  if  not  duly  paid. 

17.  The  minister  to  appoint  and  dismiss  clerk,  sexton,  and 
organist :  the  wages  not  to  be  less  to  the  clerk  than  £20 ;  to 
the  sexton,  £10;  and  to  the  organist,  £25  per  annum. 

18.  A  vault  to  be  reserved  for  Mr.  Atherton — the  residue  of 
the  burial   places   to   be   sold  by   the  committee.      Persons 
purchasing  burial  places  to   provide  grave-stones  within  six 
months,  under  a  penalty  of  £5. 

19.  Coffins  not  to  be  placed  in  the  churchyard  within  two 
feet  of  the  surface. 

20.  All  funerals  to  enter  at  the  eastern  gate  only  ;  unless  with 
permission  of  James  Atherton,  Esq.,  his  heirs,  or  assigns. 

21.  Banns  may  be  published,  and  marriages  celebrated,  in 
the  church. 

22.  Register  to  be  kept. 

23.  Double  fees  to  be  paid,  of  which,  one  half  to  go  to  the 
vicar  of  the  parish  church  of  Walton,  and  the  other  part  to  the 
minister,  &c.  of  the  church  of  St.  George. 

25.  Present  committee  to  continue  twelve  months  after  cele- 
bration of  Divine  worship.  Names  of  committee,  viz.,  James 
Atherton,  John  Cragg,  Thomas  Tattersall  the  elder,  William 
Harding,  T.  F.  Dyson,  Charles  Horsfall,  George  Brown,  Thomas 
Huson,  and  Colin  Campbell;  their  expenses  not  to  exceed 
£11,500. 

28.  Interest  in  the  church  to  be  forfeited  in  case  of  non- 


APPENDIX.  425 

payment  of  subscription.  Forfeited  shares  may  be  sold  by 
publication,  or  the  committee  may  bring  actions  in  lieu  of 
declaring  shares  forfeited. 

30.  £400  to   be  retained  by  the  committee  as  a  fund  for 
repairs  of  the  church. 

31.  Owners  of  seats  for  the  time  being  to  keep  the  church  in 
repair. 

32.  Residue  money  to  be  equally  divided  among  the  pro- 
prietors. 

33.  No  person  to  hold  more  than  ten  shares. 

34.  Proprietors  to  have  one  vote  for  each  and  every  share 
they  may  hold,  to  the  extent  of  ten  votes  or  shares  only. 

35.  On  the  first  Monday  of  every  year,  committee  to  call  a 
general  meeting;  and  at  any  time  ten  proprietors  may  demand 
a  general  meeting  to  be  held,  and  from  time  to  time,  on  giving 
ten  days'  notice  to  the  chairman  of  the  committee,  and  in  two 
of  the  Liverpool  newspapers. 

36.  The  notices  to  be  given  by  publishing  in  two  of  the 
Liverpool  newspapers ;  and  in  such  notices  the  objects  of  the 
meetings  shall  be  expressed. 

37.  Proprietors  may  appoint  committees,  and  not  exceeding 
three  auditors.    Accounts  to  be  audited  and  exhibited  annually. 

38.  The  rights  of  the  patron,  rector  and  vicar  of  Walton,  to 
be  saved. 

ORIGINAL  SUBSCRIBERS  TO  ERECT  A  CHURCH  AT  EVERTON. 

1813. 

1  William  Harding    £200  12  Jos.  Toundrow 300 

2  James  Atherton 1000  13  John  Hinde 100 

3  George  Clements,  Jun.  . .  100  14  George  Brown 200 

4  George  Farrar,  Jun 100  15  Charles  Horsfall 200 

5  John  Boardman 100  16  William  Corner 100 

6  James  Willasey  200  17  Rt.  Thompson 100 

7  John  Marsh 200  18  T.  Tattersall,  Sen 500 

8  William  Byrom 300  19  William  Brade 100 

9  John  Cregg 600  20  Robt.  J.  Buddicom 1000 

10  Thomas  Hughes 100     21  Richard  Dobson 200 

11  William  Lyne 100     22  Thomas  Murrow 100 


426 


APPENDIX. 


23  J.  Me  George 100  49 

24  John  Watmough 100  50 

25  Thomas  F.  Dyson 200  51 

26  Jos.  Ellinthorp    100  52 

27  Robert  Gill 100  53 

28  William  Ramsbottom  ...  100  54 

29  William  Statham    100  55 

30  George  Goring    100  56 

31  Thomas  Huson    100  57 

32  Thomas  C.  Porter 100  58 

33  William  Wiatt    200  59 

34  William  Duff 100  60 

35  Colin  Campbell 100  61 

36  E.  Griffiths 100  62 

37  William  Ewart    100  63 

38  Hugh  Duckworth,  Jun. . .  100  64 

39  Samuel  Dutton    100  65 

40  Cuthbert  Fair 100  66 

41  Thomas  TattersaU,  Jun..  200  67 

42  Robert  Musgrove    100  68 

43  Abraham  Garnett    ......  100  69 

44  Robert  Copeland     100  70 

45  Richard  Jackson 100  71 

46  Robert  Peel 100  72 

47  John  Drinkwater,  Jun.  . .  100  73 

48  John  G.  Geller    100 


William  Gibson 200 

Gilbert  Henderson 100 

William  Brown  100 

George  Roach 1 00 

James  Hornby 100 

Henry  Barton,  Sen 100 

Henry  Orme    100 

John  Pyke    100 

William  Dickson    .......  100 

John  Adams 100 

James  Massey 100 

William  Bird,  Jun 100 

James  Holme 100 

George  Broadbent 100 

Henry  Holt 100 

Robert  Wilson 100 

William  Barton 100 

Charles  Okill 100 

William  Appleton 200 

Samuel  Sandbach 100 

Alexander  Me  Gregor    . .  1 00 

William  Turner 100 

Jos.  Humphries 100 

William  Earie.. 100 

John  Ross 100 

Total  number  of  shares  1 15. 


When  pews  are  purchased  in  this  church,  the  purchaser  should  clearly 
understand  whether  he  buys  the  pews  only,  or  with  the  pews,  the  original 
proprietors'  right  to  vote,  and  a  claim  to  a  proportion  of  proceeds  to  arise 
from  the  sale  of  burial  places,  &c.  &c. 

After  the  completion  of  the  church,  the  whole  of  the  pews 
(except  some  few  in  the  organ-  gallery)  were  sold  to  the 
subscribers  on  the  28th  and  3 1st  October,  1814,  at  various 
prices ;  the  lowest  price  then  given  was  £27  for  a  single  pew, 
the  highest  price  £180  for  a  family  pew  with  servant's  pew 
attached.  £1  10s.  is  the  lowest,  and  £5  the  highest  amount 
at  which  the  pews  in  this  church  are  assessed,  for  reserved 
or  fixed  rents :  the  pews  that  are  under  the  north  and  south 
galleries  are  assessed  at  £2  10s.  per  annum ;  those  in  the  body 
of  the  church  at  £3  10s.  per  annum;  those  in  the  north  and 


APPENDIX. 


427 


south  galleries  at  £5  per  annum,  and  those  in  the  organ  gallery 
at  £l  10s.  and  £2  per  annum. 

The  first  stone  of  this  church  was  laid  on  the  19th  April, 
1813;  and  on  the  30th  October,  1814,  it  was  opened,  and 
divine  worship  was  then  first  publicly  performed. 

An  account  of  the  marriages,  baptisms,  and  burials  at  the 
church  of  St.  George,  in  Everton,  from  the  opening  thereof,  to 
12th  April,  1830. 


1814 

1815 

1816 

1817 

1818 

1819 

1820 

1821 

1822 

1823 

1824 

1825 

1826 

1827 

1828 

1829 

12th 
Apl. 
1830 

To- 
tal. 

284 
569 
225 

Marriages 
Baptisms 
Burials  .  . 

5 
2 
0 

9 
21 
5 

9 
24 

7 

13 

20 
8 

11 

21 

7 

10 
31 
11 

9 
36 
9 

17 
30 
11 

11 
36 
10 

27 
45 
18 

J9 
38 
19 

25 
54 
15 

25 
38 
22 

27 
53 
19 

29 
59 
29 

30 
53 
29 

8 
8 
6 

THE  MANNER  IN  WHICH  THE  FOLLOWING  TOWNSHIPS  SERVE 
AS  (OR  PROVIDE)  CHURCHWARDENS  IN  WALTON  PARISH. 

West  Derby,  exempt  for  two  years,  serves  the  third. 
Walton,  exempt  for  five  years,  serves  the  sixth. 
Fazakerly,  exempt  for  five  years,  serves  the  sixth. 
Bootle,  exempt  for  eight  years,  serves  the  ninth. 
Kirkdale,  exempt  for  eight  years,  serves  the  ninth. 
Everton,  exempt  for  eight  years,  serves  the  ninth. 

A  single  church  ley  (1817)  in  the  parish  of  Walton  makes 
£24.  The  following  are  the  names  of  the  townships  that  pay 
towards  making  it  up. 

West  Derby £10  5  8 

Formby    3  8  7 

Kirkby     3  8  7 

Walton    1  14  3$ 

Fazakerly    1  14  3§ 

Simmonswood,  Croxteth,  and  Toxteth  Park  object  to  pay,  on  the 
score  of  original  poverty. 

These  rates  or  proportions  of  each  of  the  above  townships 


Bootle-cum-Linacre  . .      169 

Kirkdale 169 

Everton    .  0  15     1 


£24     0    0 


328  APPENDIX. 

were  fixed  after  Liverpool  separated  itself  from  Walton  in 
1698:  previous  to  that  separation,  Everton  paid  13s.  4d.  at 
every  £24  rate,  Liverpool  having  paid  £5  6s.  8d. 

The  inhabitants  of  Everton  are  subject  to  annual  calls  for 
dues  belonging  to  the  vicar  of  Walton.  The  following  is  a  copy 
of  a  printed  note  actually  given  on  payment  of  those  dues 
at  Easter.  The  charge  is  affixed  to  each  of  the  items  in  the 
copy  here  presented ;  but  there  are  few  persons  in  the  township 
of  Everton  that  pay  more,  or  other,  than  the  first  three  of  the 
enumerated  items  in  the  list. 

COPY. 

Easter  offerings  belonging  to  the  vicar  of  Walton,  as  follows : 

s.    d. 
Man  and  wife 0     3 

Housekeeper,  widow,  or  widower  0  2 

Communicants,  or  persons  above  the  age  of 

sixteen 0  0|each 

Cow  and  calf 0  \\ 

2  ditto         0  3 

3  ditto          0  4£ 

4  ditto 0  6 

5  ditto         1  0 

6  ditto  and  7  ditto 4  0 

8       ditto  and  9  ditto 6  0 

10       ditto 8     0 

A  farrow  cow 0     1 

Colt I     0 

Bees  per  swarm  0     4 

Smoke  and  garden uncertain. 

Wind-mill  2     0 

Water-mill  4     0 

Hemp  and  flax  (per  bushell)  sown  1     0 

Eggs    0     0| 

Mautry  money    uncertain. 


APPENDIX.  329 

These  dues  are  collected  annually  at  Easter,  by  the  constables 
of  the  respective  townships. 

In  the  year  1829,  £10  12s.  6d.  was  collected  at  Everton  for 
these  dues,  viz. — 

Inhabited  houses,  not  keeping  cows   £5  17     6 

Cowkeepers,    and   persons   renting    land, 

keeping  cows,  charged  for  cows 4  15     0 


£10  12     6 


THE  CEMETERY,   NOW  CALLED  THE  NECROPOLIS,  AT 
EVERTON. 

"  On  Tuesday,  the  1st  of  February,  1825,  the  new  cemetery, 
at  the  top  of  Brunswick-road,  was  opened  to  the  public,  and  the 
body  of  the  late  Mrs.  Martha  Hope,  sister  to  Mr.  William  Hope, 
of  Hope-street,  Liverpool,  in  compliance  with  the  earnest  wish 
she  had  repeatedly  expressed  before  her  decease,  was  interred 
there.  This  being  the  first  interment  in  the  cemetery,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Raffles,  in  compliance  with  the  invitation  of  the  committee, 
gave  an  address,  explanatory  of  the  intentions  of  the  proprietors 
in  providing  this  very  important  addition  to  the  existing  depo- 
sitories for  the  dead;  and  the  Rev.  Moses  Fisher  afterwards 
conducted  the  funeral  service. 

"  Notwithstanding  the  very  unfavourable  state  of  the  weather, 
and  the  privacy  with  which  it  was  the  wish  of  the  family  of  the 
deceased  that  the  funeral  offices  should  be  performed,  a  large 
concourse  of  persons  was  assembled,  including  the  committee, 
and  a  great  proportion  of  the  proprietors,  who  attended  in 
mourning. 

"  The  Rev.  Doctor's  address  was  extremely  appropriate  and 
judicious.  After  pointing  out  the  evils  attendant  on  the  crowded 
state  of  our  church-yards,  and  other  places  of  sepulture  in  the  town, 
and  remarking  on  the  manifest  impropriety  of  interring  bodies 
in  the  interior  of  places  of  worship,  the  doctor  adverted,  amongst 


430  APPENDIX. 

other  advantages  proffered  in  the  new  cemetery,  to  the  circum- 
stances of  every  denomination  of  Christians  being  at  liberty 
either  to  inter  in  it  with  the  use  of  their  own  ritual,  or  to  dis- 
pense with  forms  altogether ;  and  to  the  equal  liberty  given  to 
all,  either  to  make  use  of  the  services  of  the  resident  chaplain 
or  registrar,  or  to  employ  their  own  minister:  he  especially 
pointed  out  the  precautions  taken  by  the  committee  of  manage- 
ment effectually  to  preserve  the  sanctuary  of  the  dead  from 
violation,  and  their  determination  to  render  the  undertaking,  in 
all  its  arrangements,  as  to  the  laying  out  of  the  ground,  the 
exact  register  of  every  interment  in  it,  and  the  minor  but  impor- 
tant regulations  of  the  establishment,  worthy  of  the  attention  of 
the  passing  stranger,  and  of  general  adoption  in  similar  insti- 
tutions. He  concluded  by  endeavouring  to  raise  the  views  of 
his  audience  from  these  secular  considerations  to  others  of  a 
more  exalted  character,  directing  their  contemplations  to  that 
solemn  scene  when  every  one  who  should  be  interred  there 
should,  with  an  assembled  world,  stand  before  the  Judge  of  all, 
there  to  hear  his  final  doom,  according  to  the  deeds  done  in  the 
body,  whether  good  or  evil. 

"  The  area  of  the  ground  allotted  to  burials  includes  about 
five  statute  acres,  about  one-half  of  which  will  be  appropriated 
to  graves,  and  the  other  to  vaults.  Besides  these,  the  entire 
area  (within  the  walls)  will  be  surrounded  by  family  sepulchres, 
enclosed  in  a  covered  aisle,  with  a  front  of  masonry  correspond- 
ing with  the  style  of  the  chapel  and  the  residence  of  the  chap- 
lain, and  relieved  by  iron  railings  at  the  openings.  This  covered 
aisle  not  only  renders  security  doubly  sure,  but  it  will  afford 
ample  scope  for  the  exercise  of  ingenuity  and  good  taste  in  the 
erection  of  sepulchral  monuments,  and  other  memorials  of  the 
virtues  and  excellencies  of  departed  friends.  The  whole  esta- 
blishment is  vested  in  twenty-one  trustees." — Liverpool  Mercury, 
1st  February,  1825. 

The  cemetery  contains  about  24,000  superficial  square  yards, 
and  the  undertaking  cost  nearly  £8000. 


APPENDIX.  431 

[The  following  is  taken  from  Mr.  Kaye's  'Stranger  in  Liverpool.'] 

"The  front  of  the  building  and  the  adjoining  wall  are  of 
stone.  A  border  of  ten  feet  wide,  immediately  adjoining  the 
interior  side  of  the  wall  and  surrounding  the  whole  ground,  is 
set  apart  for  an  arcade  or  colonnade,  which  will  be  roofed 
with  slate,  and  railed  in  by  ornamental  iron-work,  set  upon  a 
stone  plinth ;  this  border  will  be  used  for  tombs ;  and  any 
monumental  inscription,  tablet,  or  work  of  sculpture  that  may 
be  erected,  will  be  placed  against  the  wall,  at  the  head  of  the 
respective  tombs. 

"The  centre  of  the  ground  is  appropriated  to  vaults  and 
graves,  laid  out  in  the  regular  order,  and  numbered  according 
to  a  plan  which  may  be  seen  at  the  registrar's  office.  Each 
corpse  interred  is  regularly  registered  in  the  books  of  the  insti- 
tution. 

"  The  chapel  is  at  the  service  of  any  person  who  may  wish  to 
use  it,  and  any  religious  funeral  ceremony  may  be  performed 
in  it  by  the  minister,  or  other  person  chosen  by  the  parties  who 
may  require  its  use,  provided  such  ceremony  is  not  an  outrage 
upon  the  decencies  of  life,  or  offensive  to  civilized  society ;  but 
if  the  friends  of  the  person  to  be  interred  prefer  the  ceremony 
being  performed  by  the  registrar  of  the  cemetery,  it  is  his  duty 
to  perform  it  according  to  a  prescribed  form,  which  may  be 
seen  on  application  to  him,  and  without  any  charge  or  fee  for 
such  performance;  or,  if  preferred,  the  interment  may  be  made 
without  any  form  or  religious  rite. 

"  For  the  purpose  of  greater  security,  a  watchman  is  at  all 
times  of  the  night  upon  the  ground.  A  committee  have  a 
superintending  control,  and  will  take  care  that  nothing  offensive, 
ludicrous,  or  in  evident  bad  taste,  shall  appear  among  the 
monumental  inscriptions,  or  in  any  other  way. 

"A  system  of  the  utmost  liberality  pervades  the  entire 
management  of  this  cemetery ;  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  no 


432  APPENDIX. 

religious  distinctions  or  prejudices  will  arise  to  prevent  its  being 
the  earthly  resting  place  of  those  who,  for  security,  or  from 
other  motives  of  preference,  may  be  disposed  to  adopt  it." 

Charges  made  at  Low-hill  Necropolis,  or  General  Cemetery. 

£.  s.    d. 

A  single  interment,  without  inscription 0  10    0 

Do.          do.  do.  if  in  the  forenoon 012    6 

Do.          do.  with  name,  age,  and  time  of  decease 

engraved  on  stone    I     2    0 

Do.          do  do.  if  in  the  forenoon  ....     1     4    6 

Do.          do.  still-born  child  (afternoon)   0    3    0 

A  grave  6  ft.  6  in.  long  by  3  ft.  wide,  and  10  ft.  deep 3    0    0 

A  stone  for  do.  4  in.  thick.  . . .  ^ 2    0    0 

Sinking  graves,  and  all  other  expenses  of  first  interment. .     0  17     6 

Expenses  of  each  future  interment  in  do 0  14    6 

A  vault  7  'ft.  long  by  3  ft.  6  in.  wide,  stone  6  ft.  9  in.  long 
by  3  ft.  3  in.  wide  and  4§  in.  thick,  sinking  10$  ft., 

drains,  brickwork,  and  labour 12    0    0 

Expenses  of  first  interment,  including  inner  covering  of 

stone 1     2    0 

Expenses  of  each  future  interment,  including  do 1     9    6 

A  family  vault  or  sepulchre,  in  covered  aisle,  with  space 
for  tablet  and  other  monumental  designs,  land  10  ft. 
6  in.  by  3  ft.  5§  in.,  sinking,  brickwork,  drains,  labour, 

stone,  and  flags     30     0     0 

Engravings  of  stones,  viz. — Bordering  and  edging,  for  graves  8s., 
vaults  10s.,  vaults  in  covered  aisle  10s.  6d. ;  heading  with  large 
letters  3s.,  capitals  2s.,  and  small  letters  Is.  each  per  dozen. 

All  graves,  &c.  to  be  paid  for  on  order. 

No  additional  charge  is  made  for  fees,  or  expenses  of  any  kind  whatever. 
Every  interment  will  be  carefully  registered,  under  the  superin- 
tendence of  the  committee.  The  parties  interring  are  at  liberty  to  avail 
themselves  of  the  services  of  the  chaplain,  and  to  use  or  not  to  use  the 
form  of  service  sanctioned  by  the  committee,  at  their  option ;  and  they 
are  equally  at  liberty  to  avail  themselves  of  the  services  of  their  own 
minister,  and  to  use  their  own  form  of  worship. 

No  applications  will  be  received  on  Sundays ;    but  interments  may 
take  place  on  that  day,  between  the  hours  of  public  worship. 


APPENDIX. 

THE  EVERTON  BEACON  SOCIETY. 

This  society  originated  with  John  Pyke,  Esq.  within  the  last 
twenty  years;  it  was,  however,  suffered  to  dissolve,  through 
lack  of  unanimity;  but,  after  having  been  discontinued,  or 
broken  up,  for  some  time,  the  society  was  resuscitated  by  Mr. 
John  Me  George,  about  five  years  ago.  The  practice  is,  to 
meet  on  each  birth-day  of  the  respective  members  of  this  society: 
harmony  and  conviviality  are  the  orders  of  the  Everton  Beacon 
Society's  festive  hours. 

Each  member,  on  his  natal  day,  pays  five  shillings ;  the 
others,  that  assemble  on  such  occasions,  order  and  consume 
wassail  ad  libitum,  and,  after  the  said  five  shillings  are  ex- 
pended, individually  liquidate  according  to  the  orders  they 
issue.  The  number  of  members  is,  at  present  ( 1829),  about  fifty. 


A  STATEMENT 

Of  the  occupiers,  owners,  tenures,  and  classes  of  the  houses  and 
villas  of  Everton,  arranged  nearly  in  the  order  in  which 
they  now  respectively  stand  in  the  several  streets,  roads,  and 
places  of  the  township,  made  up  to  the  3d  April,  1830. 

Those  persons  who  have  the  initials  of  their  Christian  names 
attached  to  their  surnames  are  occupiers. 

Those  persons  whose  surnames  only  are  given  are  owners. 

The  letters,  H.  G.  V.  C.  S.,  signify  house,  garden^  villa,  cottage, 
and  shop. 

The  figures,  1  to  12,  signify  the  classes,  as  to  rental,  from  the 
first  to  the  twelfth,  according  as  the  respective  cases  may 
require. 

The  capitals,  F.  C.  L.,  denote  freehold,  copyhold,  and  leasehold. 


EVERTON  CRESCENT.     (1) 


Rawdon,  J. 
Empty 
Haines,  R. 


Padley 
Webster 

H.  &  G.  6  F. 
H.  &  G.  6  F. 

Ditto  , 

H.  &  G.  6  F. 

2  F 

434 


APPENDIX. 


Yelverton,  W. 

Peele 

H.  &  G.     6  F. 

Brown,  G. 

Self 

H.  &  G.     6  F. 

Unsworth,  J. 

Atherton 

H.  &  G.    7  F. 

Empty 

Bibby 

H.  &  G.     9  F. 

Neale,  J. 

Ditto 

H.  &  G.     9  F. 

Brebner,  J. 

Ditto 

H.  &  G.     9  F. 

Jones,  J. 

Ditto 

H.  &  G.    9  F. 

Tomlinson,  J. 

Self 

H.  &  G.     6  F. 

Yates,  Mrs.  U. 

Hornby 

H.  &  G.     6  F. 

Howe,  Miss  S. 

Scholefield 

H.  &  G.    6  F. 

Blundell,  Mrs.  M. 

Self 

H.  &  G.     7  F. 

Porter,  T. 

Waterhouse 

H.  &  G.     7  F. 

Wright,  J. 

Self 

H.  &  G.    6  F. 

EVERTON  BROW. 

(2) 

Stennett,  Mrs.  A. 

GiUeland 

H.  &  G.     9  F. 

Latham,  Miss  A. 

Self 

H.  &  G.     9  F. 

Prescott,  W. 

Latham 

H.  &  G.     8  F. 

Powles,  W.  A. 

Holmes 

H.  &  G.     6  F. 

Jones,  C.  H. 

Ditto 

H.  &  G.     6  F. 

Duarte,  T.  J. 

Ditto 

H.  &  G.     6  F. 

Holmes,  H. 

Self 

H.  &  G.     4  F. 

Holmes,  J. 

Self 

H.  &  G.    4  F. 

Hanmer,  L. 

Self 

H.  &  G.     4  F. 

Cooper,  J. 

Simpson 

H.  &  G.  11  F. 

Bebbington,  J. 

Ditto 

H.  &  G.  12  F. 

Houghton,  J. 

Ditto 

H.  &  G.  11  F. 

NETHERFIELD-ROAD  SOUTH.     (3) 

Barton,  Mrs.  S. 

Dixon 

V.              4  C. 

Dixon,  W. 

Self 

V.               6  C. 

Simpson,  J. 

Self 

V.               7  C. 

Livingstone,  Mrs. 

Self 

V.               6  C. 

Haworth,  Mrs. 

Livingstone 

V.               8  C. 

Marsh,  Mrs. 

Self 

V.               5  C. 

APPENDIX. 


435 


Radcliffe,  W. 
Anderton,  T. 
Lapage,  F. 
Staniforth,  S. 
Alston,  J.  F. 
Brown,  W. 
Ellison,  Miss 
Knowles,  T. 
Robinson,  W. 
Wainwright,  T.  W. 


Kevan 

Ditto 

Huson 

Brooks 

Greenway 

Self 

Brown 

Lorimer 

Self 

Robinson 


H.  &  G.  10  C. 
H.  &  G.  10  C. 
V.  7  C. 

V.  3  C. 

V.  3  C. 

V.  1  C. 

H.  &  G.  11  C. 
School  8  L. 
V.  7  C. 

V.  7  G. 


Hall,  C. 
Carson,  J. 
Dobson,  R. 
Earle,  W. 
Tarlton,  Miss 
Chew,  Mrs. 
Eyes,  Miss 
Syers,  R. 
Mather,  J.  P. 
Boardman,  J.  B. 

Empty 
Ball,  T. 
Cropper,  J. 

Empty 
Lester,  E. 
Jones,  E. 
Franklin,  T. 
Boothby,  J.  B. 
Campbell,  C. 

Empty 
Campbell,  J. 
Howe,  J. 
Davidson,  J. 


NETHERFIELD-ROAD  NORTH.     (4) 

Carson  H. 

Ditto  V. 

Self  V. 

Self  V. 

Self  V. 
Exrs.  Beetenson  H.  &  G. 


Ditto  H.  &  G. 

Ditto  H.  &  G. 

Self  V. 

Self  V. 

Ball  V. 

Ditto  V. 

Self  V. 

Worrall  H.  &  G. 

Self  V. 

Self  H.  &  G. 

Beakbane  H.  &  G. 

Ackers  V. 

Self  V. 
ExrsBrocklebankV. 

Ditto  V. 

Harrison  V. 

Powell  V. 


11  L. 
2  L. 
4  F. 
1  F. 

7  F. 
11  L. 
11  L. 
11  L. 

1  F. 
9  L. 

8  L. 

7  L. 
1  F. 

8  L. 
7  L. 

11  L. 
10  L. 

6  L. 

7  L. 

9  L. 
9  L. 
9  L. 
9  L. 


APPENDIX. 


Boardman,  J. 

Self 

V.               9  L. 

Horsfall,  C. 

Self 

V.               3  F. 

Laffer,  H. 

Self 

V.               9  L. 

Salkeld,  G. 

Gilman 

V.               9  L. 

Ledson,  B. 

Self 

V.               9  L. 

Potter,  Mrs.  J. 

Self 

V.               4  F. 

Scurr,  J. 

Potter 

V.               4  F. 

Jackson,  W. 

Holmes 

V.               8  L. 

Baldwin,  W.  H, 

Ditto 

V.               8  L. 

Holmes,  J. 

Self 

H.            10  L. 

Stiles,  S.  C. 

Holmes 

V.             11  L. 

Hatton,  B. 

Ditto 

H.            11  L. 

Tatlock,  W. 

Self 

V.               9  L. 

Attwood,  Mrs. 

Grundy 

H.            11  L. 

Hankin,  W. 

Leigh 

Quarry     11  L. 

DEVONSHIRE  PLACE. 

(5) 

Mottershead,  T. 

Smith 

H.  &  G.  11  L. 

Johnson,  Mrs. 

Walthew 

H.  &  G.     9  L. 

Cannel,  Miss 

Holmes 

H.  &  G.  10  L. 

Harrop,  J. 

Woods 

H.  &  G.  10  L. 

Delonde,  C. 

Williams 

H.  &  G.     9  L. 

Empty 

Barrowclough 

H.  &  G.     9  L. 

Clare,  George 

Ditto 

H.  &  G.  11  L, 

Empty 

Ditto 

H.  &  G.  11  I/. 

Bickersteth,  W. 

Roberts 

H.  &  G.  11  L. 

Ashcroft,  E. 

Self 

H.  &  G.  11  L. 

Empty 

Cross 

H.  &  G.  11  L. 

Empty 

Matthews 

H.  &  G.     9  L. 

Lady  Reid 

Ditto 

H.  &  G.     9  L. 

Wilson,  Mrs. 

Smith 

H.  &  G.  11  L. 

Smith,  J. 

Self 

H.  &  G.  11  L. 

Carter,  W. 

Smith 

H.  &  G.  11  L. 

Gandy,  W.  J. 

Brown 

H.  &  G.  11  L. 

Buchanan,  J. 

Roberts 

H.  &  G.  10  L. 

APPENDIX. 


437 


Atwood,  J.                       Jackson                H.  &  G. 

10  L. 

Fair,  Miss  A.                   Brown                  H.  &  G. 

10  L. 

Forshaw,  Mrs.  S.             Edwards              H.  &  G. 

10  L. 

Bootle  Water-works        Selves                  Tank 

8  L 

Pearson,  J.                       Self                     H. 

11  L. 

SAINT  DOMINGO  LANE.     (6) 

Duly,  R.                          Self                     H.  &  S. 

11  L. 

Anderson,  J.                    Atherton              H. 

11  L. 

Empty                            Exrs  Edwards     H. 

10  L. 

Swift,  Mrs.  J.                  Whitley               H. 

11  L. 

Williams,  E.                   Stretch                 H. 

11  L. 

Rogerson,  J.                     Ditto                     H. 

12  L. 

Morgan,  J.                       Ditto                     H. 

12  L. 

Maxwell,  J.                     M'George            H. 

12  L. 

M'George,  J.                   Self                      H.  &  S. 

11  L. 

EVERTON  VALLEY.     (7) 

Brocklekank,  Mrs.           Stretch                 H. 

11  L. 

Harper,  D.                       Self                      H. 

12  L. 

Lang,  J.                           Self                     H. 

8  L. 

Richardson,  Captain       Lang                    H. 

9  L. 

Empty                            Ditto                    H. 

9  L. 

Wrigley,  James  H.         Ditto                    H. 

9  L. 

Hindle,  J.                        Self                      H. 

12  L. 

Coleburn,  Mrs.               Hindle                 H. 

12  L. 

BRONTE  VILLA.     (81) 

/,7  .•••/ 

Woodhouse,  S.               Self                      V. 

2  L. 

WALTON  BRECK  LANE.    (8) 

>•"•,  -..  ,/..    • 

Pritchard,  Mrs.               Self                     V. 

9  L. 

BEACON  LANE.     (9) 

Rothwell,  William          Pritchard             H. 

11  L. 

Ramsbotham,  G.             Rhodes                H. 

11  L. 

438 


APPENDIX. 


Corrie,  Miss 
Whalley,  J. 
Sandiford,  J. 
Empty 

Myers,  R. 

Harris,  T. 
Parry,  R. 
Belcher,  M. 
Exrs  Willasey 
Potter,  Miss 
Thompson,  A. 
Foden,  W. 
Williams,  W. 
Wyberg,  G. 
Perry,  W. 
Lorimer,  C. 
Coleman,  R. 
Exrs  Drinkwater 
Dyson,  T. 

Empty 
M'George,  Miss 

Myers,  W. 


Warner,  C. 
Moon,  J. 
Middleton,  C.  S. 
Humphries,  David 
Atherton,  J. 
Hornby,  J. 


M'Gregor 
Ditto 
Atherton 
Knowles 

SPARLING  STREET. 
Atherton 


CHURCH  STREET. 

Atherton 

Ditto 

Robinson 

Harrison 

Atherton 

Okill  &  others 

Cropper 

Dickson 

Ditto 

Self 

Dickson 

Ditto 

Selves 

Self 

Bowman 

M'George 


School  1  L. 

Nursery  10  L. 

H.  11  L. 

H.G.  11  L. 


(10) 
H. 


11  L. 


(ID 
H.School  4  L. 


H. 

H.G. 

H.G. 

H. 

H.G. 

H. 

H. 

H. 

V. 

V. 

School 

V. 

V. 

H. 

H. 


MERE  LANE. 
Self 

LODGE  LANE. 

Rowland 

Ditto 

Atherton 

Lightfoot 

Self 

Self 


(12) 


V. 


(13) 


V. 
V. 
V. 
V. 
V. 
V. 


10  L. 
10  L. 

10  L. 
1L  L. 

11  L. 
11  L. 
11  C. 
11  C. 

6  C. 

8  C. 

9  C, 
9  C. 
1  C. 
9  C. 

11  L. 


1  L. 

6  L. 
6  L. 
5  L. 
5  L. 

2  L. 
2  L. 


APPENDIX. 


439 


Barker,  J.  R. 

Dyson 

V. 

9  L. 

Empty 

Ditto 

V. 

10  L. 

Ledward,  E. 

Self 

V. 

5  L. 

Buddicom,  Rev 

.  R.  P.     Self 

V. 

8  L. 

Ironside,  C. 

Heyworth 

V. 

5  L. 

Wilson,  E. 

Ditto 

V. 

6  L. 

Brown,  W.  A. 

Forrest 

V. 

8  L. 

Heyworth,  O. 

Self 

V. 

2  L. 

SAINT  GEORGE'S  HELL. 

(14) 

Dickson,  G. 

Self 

V. 

2  C. 

Heyworth,  J. 

Self 

V. 

2  C. 

Wilson,  W. 

M'Gregor 

V. 

9  L. 

Henry,  W. 

Ditto 

V. 

2  L. 

TERRACE.     (15) 

Barton,  Miss 

Batley 

V. 

9  C. 

Batley,  George 

Ditto 

V. 

7  C. 

Barton,  M. 

Self 

V. 

7  C. 

Empty 

Barton 

V. 

9  C. 

Taylor,  J. 

Self 

V. 

2  C. 

Sharp,  Miss 

Stubbs 

School 

2  C. 

Tattersall,  T. 

Self 

V. 

5  C. 

Muller,  J.  F. 

Lorimer 

V. 

10  L. 

Lorimer,  Mrs. 

Ditto 

V. 

10  L. 

English,  T. 

Ditto 

V. 

10  L. 

Flemming,  T. 

Ditto 

V. 

10  L. 

Moore,  S. 

Ditto 

V. 

10  L. 

Fennel,  C. 

Ditto 

V. 

10  L. 

Best,  Miss 

Blundell 

H. 

11  L. 

Branch,  T. 

Ditto 

V. 

9  C. 

Higginson,  J. 

Self 

V. 

1  C. 

Hope,  S. 

Self 

V. 

3  C. 

Brawn,  L. 

Hope 

V. 

6  L.  &    C 

Watkins,  R. 

Ditto 

V. 

B  L.  &  C. 

440 


APPENDIX. 


Empty 

Hope 

V. 

3  L.  &  C. 

Guest,  J. 

Exrs  Ellinthorp 

H. 

11  L. 

Jones,  J. 

Ditto 

H. 

12  L. 

Pennington,  J. 

Ditto 

H. 

11  L. 

Kitchen,  J.  E. 

Ditto 

H. 

12  L. 

Thomas,  E. 

Ditto 

H. 

11  L. 

Cook,  W. 

Ditto 

H. 

11  L. 

Hughes,  Miss 

Self 

H. 

11  L. 

RUPERT  LANE.    (16) 

Halliday,  W. 

Golightly 

Inn 

10  C. 

Johnson,  J.        • 

Atherton 

V. 

9  C. 

Cowgill,  Mrs. 

Self 

V. 

9  C. 

Aspinall,  T. 

M'  George 

V. 

9  C. 

Shand,  C. 

Self 

V. 

1  C. 

Kendall,  Mrs.  E. 

Lowrie 

V. 

10  C. 

Lowrie,  T. 

Self 

V. 

8  C. 

Taylor,  J. 

Pyke 

V. 

10  C. 

Benn,  R. 

Brandreth 

V. 

9  C. 

Bull,  Mrs. 

Ditto 

H. 

12  C. 

VILLAGE.     (17) 

Harrison,  W. 

Farmer 

H. 

11  C. 

Chaffers,  Miss 

Self 

V. 

5  C. 

Wrenshall,  W. 

Pyke 

V. 

7  C. 

Pyke,  J. 

Self 

V. 

7  C. 

Stevenson,  C. 

Pyke 

H. 

12  C. 

Empty 

Plumpton 

V. 

9  C. 

Syers,  W. 

Tatlock 

H. 

10  C. 

Shaw,  W. 

Farmer 

H. 

11  C. 

Rainford,  T. 

Hodgson 

C. 

12  C. 

Jones,  W. 

Ditto 

C. 

11  C. 

Slingsby,  J. 

Slingsby 

C. 

10  C. 

Tatlock,  Mrs. 

Self 

V. 

8  C. 

Empty 

Anderton 

C. 

12  C.      Sf;/ 

APPENDIX. 


441 


Hitchmough,  J. 

Anderton             C. 

12  C. 

Slingsby,  T. 

Ditto                     H. 

10  C. 

Atherton,  R. 

Naylor                 Dairy 

11  C. 

Creer,  R. 

M'George            H.  &  S, 

11  C. 

Sandiford,  R. 

Self                     H.  &  S, 

10  C. 

Topping,  Mrs. 

Self                      H. 

10  C. 

Smith,  John 

Shaw                    C. 

11  F. 

Lyon,  John 

Farmer 

12  C. 

Syers,  G. 

Green                   V. 

9  C. 

Robson,  T. 

Ditto                    V. 

9  C. 

Withers,  G. 

Brown                  V. 

9  C. 

Holmes,  J. 

Fisher                   V. 

6  C. 

Shaw,  T. 

Self                      V. 

6  F. 

EVERTON  LANE.     (18) 

Rutter,  Mrs. 

Shaw                    H. 

12  F. 

Coleman,  Miss 

Cliffe                    School 

5C. 

Buchanan,  D. 

Plumpton            V. 

5  C. 

Sands,  T. 

Ditto                    V. 

4  C. 

Wain,  Mrs. 

Ditto                    V. 

5  C. 

Latham,  A. 

Ditto                    V. 

5  C. 

Fosberry,  W. 

Self                      V. 

6  C. 

Logan,  J. 

V. 

6  C. 

Russell,  William 

Gleave                 V. 

6  C. 

Brooks,  Rev.  J. 

Self                     V. 

3  C.  V  1 

Roach,  Mrs. 

Plumpton            H.  &  G. 

8  C. 

Empty 

Ditto                    H.  &G. 

8  C. 

Lodge,  A. 

Gregson               V. 

1  C. 

BIRCH  FIELD.     (80) 

Ross,  H.  W. 

Exrs  Ewart         V. 

3  F. 

RAKE  LANE.     (19) 

Bruce,  Rev.  J. 

Trust.  Cemetery 

5  C. 

Jones,  Mrs.  S. 

.    Widdowson         C. 

12  F, 

442 

APPENDIX. 

Turton,  W. 

Anderton 

C. 

12  F. 

MILL  LANE.     (20) 

Richardson,  J. 

Wood 

H.  &G. 

11  C. 

Gore,  H. 

Gore 

H.  &G. 

11  C. 

Maddock,  T. 

Remmington 

H.  &G. 

11  C. 

Evans,  S. 

Ditto 

H.  &G. 

12  C. 

Jones,  Mrs. 

Ditto 

H.  &G. 

11  C. 

Edwards,  Mary 

Ditto 

H.  &G. 

12  C. 

Padmore,  Mrs. 

Ditto 

H.  &G. 

12  C. 

Dickson,  G. 

Waugh 

H.  &G. 

11  C. 

Harding,  J. 

Ditto 

H.  &G. 

11  C. 

WHITEFIELD  LANE. 

(21) 

Hughes,  Mrs. 

Gibbon 

C.  &G. 

11  F.  &  L. 

Reddish,  T. 

Self 

V. 

e  F. 

HANGFIELD  LANE. 

(22) 

Taylor,  D. 

Exrs  Harding 

H. 

12  L. 

Hodgson,  A. 

Ditto 

V. 

3  L. 

Cordes,  J.  J. 

Ditto 

V. 

8  L. 

Frodsham,  R. 

Perry 

C. 

12 

BRECK  LANE.     (23) 

Powell,  R. 

Self 

V. 

0  L. 

Reeves,  T. 

Self 

V. 

9  L. 

M'Guire,  Rev.  W 

Reeves 

H. 

10  L. 

Empty 

Ditto 

H. 

9  L. 

Spencer,  Richard 

Richardson 

G. 

12  L. 

Rose,  J. 

Rose 

V. 

11  L. 

Pickering,  W. 

Self 

V. 

9  L. 

Empty 

Gillespie 

H. 

10  L. 

Barnes,  H. 

Self 

H. 

9  L. 

Harding,  Mrs. 

Exrs  Harding 

V. 

3  L. 

Milner,  T. 

Exrs  Barton 

V. 

8  C. 

Law,  Mrs.  J. 

Rogerson 

V. 

9  C. 

APPENDIX. 


443 


Fry,  J. 

Self 

V. 

5  C. 

Mawdsley,  E. 

Self 

V. 

11  C. 

Nay  lor,  R. 

Self 

H.  &G. 

11  C. 

Ovens,  R. 

Self 

H.  &G. 

11  C. 

Weetman,  J. 

Ovens 

H.  &G. 

11  C. 

Wilson,  R. 

Thompson 

H.  &G. 

12  C. 

Heaton,  J. 

Self 

H.  &G. 

11  C. 

Ball,  J. 

Self 

H.  &G. 

11  C. 

Tweddell,  Rev. 

R.          Jones 

V. 

9  C. 

Bowman,  Mrs. 

Pyke 

H. 

10  C. 

Maynard,  T. 

Self 

H.  &G. 

11  C. 

Empty 

Heaton 

H.  &G. 

11  C. 

Empty 

Ditto 

H.  &G. 

11  C. 

Thomas,  R. 

Thompson 

H.  &G. 

12  C. 

PRINCE  EDWIN  STREET. 

(24) 

Hodgson,  D. 

Exrs  Adamson 

V. 

6  C. 

Appleton,  W. 

Self 

V. 

3  C.  &  F. 

Bryan,  R. 

Dale 

V. 

8  F. 

Mossman,  A. 

Cope 

V. 

7  F. 

Moore,  T. 

Bickersteth 

V. 

7  F. 

Da  Costa,  A.  J 

Bowden 

V. 

9  F. 

Benson,  J. 

Robinson 

V. 

7  F. 

Robinson,  G. 

Self 

v, 

9  F. 

Taylor,  J. 

Robinson 

V. 

9  F. 

Cope,  B. 

Self 

V. 

10  F. 

Appleton,  R. 

Robinson 

V. 

8  F.  &  C. 

Empty 

Ditto 

V. 

8  F.  &  C. 

GREAT  NELSON  STREET 

•     (25) 

Houghton,  R. 

Self 

V. 

2 

Pennington,  J. 

Birtles 

H. 

10  F. 

Hughes,  T. 

Ditto 

H. 

10  F. 

Bankes,  H. 

Ditto 

H. 

10  F. 

Empty 

Ditto 

H. 

10  F. 

444 


APPENDIX. 


Wilson,  J. 

Birtles 

H. 

10  F. 

Wright,  Mrs. 

Ditto 

H. 

10  F. 

GREAT 

HOMER  STREET. 

(26) 

Irvin,  I. 

Davies 

H. 

10  C. 

Strickland,  Mrs. 

Taylor 

H. 

10  C. 

Empty 

Ditto 

H. 

10  C. 

Sutherland 

Ditto 

H. 

10  C. 

Taylor,  R. 

Ditto 

H. 

10  C. 

Berthoud.  J. 

Clough 

H. 

10  C. 

Strickland,  J. 

Clough 

H. 

10  C. 

Trougher,  Mrs. 

Self 

H. 

10  C. 

Farnworth,  Miss 

Brewe 

H. 

10  C. 

Kenworthy,  Mrs. 

Ditto 

H. 

10  C. 

Ellison,  T. 

Self 

H. 

10  C. 

Cleworth,  J. 

Self 

H. 

9  C. 

Empty 

Taylor 

H. 

10  C. 

Cudd,  J. 

Parry 

H. 

10  C. 

Geddes,  J.  J. 

Self 

H. 

10  C. 

Jones,  J. 

Parry 

H. 

10  C. 

Brettargh,  T. 

Hargreaves 

Inn 

6  C. 

Greenall,  E. 

Worrall 

H. 

10  C. 

Rothwell,  H. 

Wilson 

H. 

10  c. 

Swift,  J. 

Christian 

H. 

11  C. 

Fothergill,  W. 

Pierce 

H. 

11  C. 

Hibbert,  T. 

Ditto 

H. 

11  C. 

Empty 

Christian 

H. 

11  C. 

Sudlow,  T.  M. 

GUI 

H. 

11  e. 

Gill,  J. 

Ditto 

H. 

10  C. 

Gill,  Joseph 

Ditto 

H. 

10  C. 

Randies,  J.  H. 

Jones 

H. 

11  C. 

Jones,  John 

Self 

H. 

11  C. 

Me  Kee,  S. 

Brown 

H. 

10  C. 

Dutton,  J. 

Ball 

H. 

10  C. 

Hillam,  T. 

Self       v 

H. 

10  C. 

APPENDIX. 


445 


Toxall,  Mrs. 

Hayes 

H. 

10  C. 

Empty 

Griffiths 

H. 

10  C. 

Sim,  J. 

Dumbell 

H. 

10  C. 

Cooper,  T. 

Williams 

H. 

11  C. 

Nicholson,  G.  W. 

Duckworth 

H. 

11  C. 

Anstice,  J.  B. 

Williams 

H. 

11  C. 

Kenyon,  Mrs. 

Ditto 

H. 

11  C. 

ROSE  VALE. 

(27) 

Ridgway,  Mrs. 

Wilson 

H. 

10  C. 

Beakbane,  T. 

Carter 

H. 

JO  C. 

Wilson,  Mrs. 

Wilson 

H. 

10  C. 

Skerratt,  W.  N. 

Ditto 

H. 

10  C. 

Lowe,  A. 

Exrs  Jones 

H. 

10  C. 

Foster,  W.  Sen. 

Williams 

H. 

10  C. 

Foster,  J. 

Ditto 

H. 

10  C. 

Empty 

Byrom 

H. 

10  c. 

Sutton,  A. 

Ditto 

H. 

10  C. 

Carr,  Mrs.  M. 

Ditto 

H.  &G. 

10  C. 

Davies,  H. 

Ditto 

H.  &G. 

10  C. 

PORTLAND  PLACE.     (28) 

Dawbarn,  J. 

Jones 

H. 

11  C. 

Keogh,  L. 

Gill 

H. 

11  C. 

Parkinson,  R. 

Stewart 

H. 

11  C. 

Sudlow,  H. 

Gill 

H. 

11  C. 

Collard,  A. 

Lucas 

H. 

11  C. 

Langtree,  G. 

Williams 

H. 

10  C. 

Hammitton,  R.  H. 

Ditto 

H. 

10  C. 

Moorehouse,  J. 

Self 

H. 

10  C. 

Baddenach,  George 



H. 

10  c. 

Trotter,  T. 

Woods 

H. 

10  C. 

Blundell,  Mrs.  J. 

Ditto 

H. 

10  c. 

Matthews,  Mrs.  M. 

Self 

H. 

10  C. 

Perry,  J. 

Williams 

H. 

10  C. 

446 


APPENDIX. 


Empty 

Williams 

H. 

10  C. 

Nicholson,  Miss 

Ditto 

H. 

10  C. 

Taylor,  John 

Self 

H. 

10  C. 

Haskayne,  W. 

Self 

H. 

10  C. 

Collard,  Miss 

Smith 

H. 

10  C. 

Carrick,  Mrs. 

Steele 

H. 

10  C. 

Downing,  B.  H. 

Williams 

H. 

10  C. 

DRYDEN  STREET. 

(29) 

Shotwell,  Mrs. 

Clough 

H. 

11  C. 

Cave,  R. 

Picton 

H. 

12  C. 

Muir,  J. 

Ditto 

H. 

11  C. 

Webster,  J. 

Stanley 

H. 

12  C. 

Ellis,  R. 

Ditto 

H. 

12  C. 

VIRGIL  STREET. 

(30) 

Lindsay,  W. 

Exrs  Brewe- 

H. 

11  C. 

Byrne,  C.  H. 

Ditto 

H. 

11  C. 

Fair,  J. 

Ditto 

H. 

11  C. 

Ackers,  J. 

Ditto 

H. 

11  C. 

Tyson,  W. 

Ditto 

H. 

11  C. 

Warren,  J.  H. 

Taylor 

H. 

11  C. 

Mercer,  Mrs. 

Self 

H. 

11  C. 

Crank,  T. 

Self 

H. 

11  C. 

Lamb,  J. 

Crank 

H. 

11  C. 

Shaw,  W. 

Collard 

H. 

11  C. 

Empty 

Arrowsmith 

H. 

11  C. 

Wommersley,  J. 

Crank 

H. 

11  C. 

Healing,  Elizabeth 

Ditto 

H. 

11  C. 

Cummins,  R. 

Self 

H. 

11  C. 

Edwards  R: 

Shaw 

H. 

11  C. 

Empty 

Ditto 

H. 

11  C. 

Atherton,  Captain 

J.       Pierce 

H. 

11  C. 

Higgin,  Mrs.  M. 

Williams 

H. 

12  C. 

Williams,  W. 

Ditto 

H. 

12  C. 

Mills,  E. 

Ditto 

H. 

12  C. 

APPENDIX. 


447 


Crewdson,  A. 

Ditto 

H. 

12  C. 

Mills,  J. 

Worrall 

12  C. 

COLLINGWOOD  STREET. 

(31) 

Burden,  W. 

Clough 

H. 

11  C. 

Caesar,  T. 

Self 

H. 

12  C. 

Quale,  Margaret 

Christian 

H. 

12  C. 

Fox,  T. 

Self 

H. 

11  C. 

Johnson,  J. 

Self 

H. 

10  C. 

Empty 

Brewe 

H. 

9  C. 

Williams,  W. 

Self 

H. 

11  C. 

Renwick,  J. 

Williams 

H. 

11  C. 

Owens,  R. 

Self 

H. 

12  C. 

Kirkman,  R. 

H. 

12  C. 

Price,  T. 

Ford 

H. 

11  C. 

Cowell,  W. 

Ditto 

H. 

11  C. 

Pugh,  E. 

Davies 

H. 

12  C. 

Newton,  R. 

Edwards 

H. 

12  C. 

Fairhurst,  M. 

Jones 

H. 

12  C. 

Jones,  W. 

Jones 

H. 

12  C. 

ROSCOMMON  STREET. 

(32) 

Davies,  J. 

Self 

H.  &G. 

9  C. 

Wainwright,  G. 

J.          Self 

H.  &G. 

9  C. 

Jackson,  J. 

Self 

H.  &G. 

9  C. 

Bryans,  J. 

Davies 

H.  &G. 

9  C. 

Stockdale,  T. 

Ditto 

H.  &G. 

9  C. 

Bird,  Mrs. 

Self 

H.  &  G. 

8  C. 

Irlam,  G  .B. 

Rowlands 

H.  &  G. 

7  C. 

Cliffe,  A. 

Byrom 

H.  &  G. 

8  C. 

Turner,  G. 

Carson 

H.  &  G. 

4  C. 

Glazebrook,  F.  J.            Brown 

H. 

9  C. 

Empty 

Ditto 

H. 

9  C. 

Hutchinson,  J. 

Manifold 

H. 

9  C. 

Tronson,  R. 

1  lillani 

H. 

9  C. 

Dale,  J. 

Walker 

H. 

9  C. 

APPENDIX. 


Harrison,  D. 

Duckworth          H. 

11  C. 

Cator,  W. 

Ditto                    H. 

9  C. 

Sanderson,  H.  J. 

Self                      H. 

6  C. 

Johnson,  George 

Self                       H. 

6  C. 

Smallwood,  Mrs. 

Exrs  Roper          H. 

8  C. 

M'Cheane,  W. 

Self                      H. 

10  C. 

Dodson,  Miss 

Syers                    H. 

10  C. 

Aspinall,  R. 

Ditto                    H. 

9  C. 

Parton,  J. 

Atherton              H. 

9  C. 

Foster,  William, 

J.         Exrs  Beetinson    H. 

7  C. 

Johnson,  Mrs. 

Sanderson            H. 

9  C. 

Booker,  T. 

Appleton              Brewery 

5  C. 

Adamson,  T. 

Self                      H. 

10  C. 

Parlane,  A. 

Exrs  Wiatt           H. 

7  C. 

Beetinson,  Mrs. 

Exrs  Beetinson   H. 

8  C. 

Harrison,  D. 

Self                      H. 

8  C. 

Wiatt,  Mrs.  M. 

Self                       H. 

8  C. 

Jones,  E. 

Exrs  Wiatt          H. 

12  C. 

Martindale,  W. 

Cleworth              S. 

12  C. 

WEBSTER  STREET.     (33) 

Dooly,  J. 

Exrs  Watmough  S. 

12  F. 

Lessey,  D. 

Fog                     H. 

11  F. 

Parkinson,  A. 

Ditto                    H. 

11  F. 

Abraham,  W. 

Ditto                    H. 

11  F. 

Taylor,  T. 

Self                      H. 

12  F. 

Mottershead.  T. 

Taylor                  H. 

12  F. 

Spencer,  H. 

Self                      H. 

10  F. 

Edwards,  J. 

Spencer               H. 

11  F. 

Watkin,  J. 

Brown                  H. 

11  F. 

Hesketh,  B. 

Molyneux            H. 

11  F. 

M'Rae,  J. 

Clague                  H. 

11  F. 

Hayes,  J. 

Ditto                    H. 

11  F. 

M'Kenzie,  J. 

Ditto                    H. 

12  F. 

Haddock,  H. 

Self                      H. 

11  F. 

APPENDIX. 


449 


Bowman,  W. 

Pritchard 

H. 

11  F. 

Shaw,  W.  C. 

Ditto 

H. 

11  F. 

Halliday,  P. 

Ditto 

H. 

11  F. 

Billing,  W. 

Ditto 

H. 

11  F. 

Wilson,  H. 

Davies 

H. 

11  F. 

STRICKLAND  STREET. 

(34; 

M'Kenzie,  A. 

Self 

H. 

12  F. 

Agar,  Mrs. 

Burlancl 

H. 

12  F. 

Bowerbank,  F. 

Self 

H. 

12  F. 

York,  E. 

Shewell 

H. 

12  F. 

Empty 

Nicholson 

H. 

12  F. 

Forshaw,  H. 

Ditto 

H. 

12  F. 

Howarth,  R. 

Formby 

H. 

12  F. 

Wilson,  F. 

Moore 

H. 

12  F. 

Berry,  W. 

Forshaw 

H. 

12  F. 

Empty 

Rooper 

H. 

12  F. 

Haydock,  H. 

Self 

Stable 

12  F. 

Whitbread,  J. 

Molyneux 

H. 

12  F. 

Bickerstaff,  W. 

Linney 

H. 

12  F. 

Walter,  T. 

Ditto 

H. 

12  F. 

M'Mullin,  J. 

Spencer 

H. 

12  F. 

Tyrrell,  G. 

M'Guffie 

H. 

11  F. 

Clagiie,  Robert 

Self 

H. 

12  F. 

Leggett,  J. 

Pritchard 

H. 

12  F. 

Wright,  Mrs. 

Ditto 

H. 

12  F. 

Barrow,  Mrs.  J. 

Ditto 

H. 

12  F. 

Pritchard,  T. 

Ditto 

H. 

12  F. 

BACK  PRINCE  EDWIN  STREET.     (35) 

Campbell,  P. 

Cope 

H. 

12  F. 

Bebbington 

Ditto 

H. 

12  F. 

Perry,  R. 

Ditto 

H. 

12  F. 

WELLINGTON  STREET. 

(36) 

Steele,  J. 

Steele 

H. 

11   F. 

2  G 

450 


APPENDIX. 


Walklate,  Mrs. 

Edmonson 

H. 

11  F. 

Ward,  J. 

Ditto 

H. 

11  F. 

Corkindale,  H. 

Self 

H. 

11  F. 

UPPER 

BEAU  STREET. 

(37) 

Handy,  W.  B. 

Corkindale 

H. 

11  F. 

Ellis,  G. 

Henshaw 

H. 

11  F. 

Hilton,  Rev.  J. 

Emery 

H. 

11  F. 

Chaffers,  J. 

Ditto 

H. 

10  F. 

Sutton,  William 

Ditto 

H. 

10  F. 

Nixon,  T. 

Ditto 

H. 

10  F. 

Atherton,  Mrs. 

Spencer 

H. 

11  F. 

Yelverton,  T. 

Goslin 

H. 

11  F. 

Mercer,  H. 

Ditto 

H. 

11  F. 

Price,  R. 

Exs.  Hilton 

H. 

11  F. 

Jump,  Mrs.  E. 

Self 

H. 

11  F. 

Brown,  Ann 

Forrest 

H. 

11  F. 

Swire,  S. 

Padley 

H. 

11  F. 

Oxley,  T. 

Ditto 

H. 

11  F. 

Empty 

Forrest 

H. 

11  F. 

Taylor,  E. 

Binkes 

H. 

—  F. 

Robinson,  George 

Self 

H. 

—  F. 

Birkett,  W. 

Chandler 

H. 

—  F. 

Taylor,  Mrs. 

Self 

H. 

—  F. 

Mason,  S. 

Self 

H. 

—  F. 

BERESFORD  STREET. 

(38) 

Chaffers,  Mrs. 

Padley 

H. 

—  F. 

Dagnall,  J. 

Hayman 

H. 

•p 

Brennand,  M. 

Edmonson 

H. 

—  F. 

Edmonson,  W. 

Self 

H. 

—  F. 

Hazlett,  Elizabeth 

Bramwall 

H. 

—  F. 

Maddock,  S. 

Hindle 

H. 

—  F. 

Empty 

Ditto 

H. 

—  F. 

BACK  STRICKLAND  STREET.    (39) 


Me  Gregor,  W. 


Spencer 


H. 


12  F. 


APPENDIX. 


451 


Metcalf,  J. 

Hankin                 H. 

12  F. 

Kelsall,  J. 

Ditto                     H. 

12  F. 

MARY  ANN  STREET.     (40) 

Jukes,  J. 

Exrs  Thompson  H. 

9  L. 

Shand,  W. 

Exrs  Beetenson  V. 

6  L. 

Jones,  Thomas 

Self                      V. 

8  L. 

Hind,  Mrs. 

Heyworth            H. 

11  L. 

Miller,  Mrs. 

Exrs  Beetenson  H. 

11  L. 

Appleton,  T. 

Byrom                  H. 

11  L. 

WATMOUGH  STREET.     (48) 

Wylie,  D. 

Self                      H. 

11  F. 

Watmough,  Mrs. 

Exrs  Watmough  H. 

11  F. 

Forrest,  T. 

Self                      H. 

11  F. 

HAWORTH  STREET.     (78) 

Santley,  J. 

Taylor                  H. 

12  F. 

Clay,  J. 

Ditto                    H. 

12  F. 

PINFOLD  HOUSE.     (55) 

Johnson,  J. 

Township            H. 

12  L. 

BEACON  LANE  COTTAGES.     (9) 

Davies,  R. 

Me  George           H. 

12  L. 

Wilson,  R. 

Ditto                    H. 

12  L. 

Harrison,  C. 

Ditto                    H. 

12  L. 

Foster,  C. 

Ditto                    H. 

12  L. 

Fairclough,  R. 

Pritchard              H. 

12  L. 

CLIFTON  STREET.     (71) 

Wilson,  W. 

Not  ascertained   H. 

11  F. 

Dickson,  Mrs. 

Ditto                    H. 

11  F. 

Bishop,  J.  H. 

Ditto                    H. 

11  F. 

Glover,  R. 

Ditto                    H. 

11  F. 

JOHN  STREET.     (42) 

Me  George,  J. 

Self                      H.  &  G. 

10  L. 

452 


APPENDIX. 


GRENVILLE  STREET.     (46) 

Fairclough,  T. 

Me  Gee 

H. 

12  C. 

Marshall,  R. 

Not  ascertained  H. 

11  C. 

Houghton,  J. 

Ditto 

H. 

12  C. 

GRECIAN  TERRACE. 

(59) 

Davies,  J.  R. 

Atherton 

V. 

8  L. 

Empty 

Ditto 

V. 

8  L. 

Empty 

Ditto 

V. 

8  L. 

Empty 

Ditto 

V. 

8  L. 

SHAW  STREET. 

(43) 

Christian,  G. 

Lyon 

H. 

7  F. 

Rawdon,  J. 

Ditto 

H. 

8  F. 

Empty 

Reed 

H. 

7  F. 

Whitley,  J. 

Self 

H. 

3  F. 

Empty 

Hartley 

H. 

7  F. 

Empty 

Hankin 

H. 

7  F. 

Empty 

Ditto 

H. 

7  F. 

WATERHOUSE  LANE 

.     (57) 

Stokes,  Mrs. 

Waterhouse 

H. 

12  C. 

Waterhouse,  Mrs 

Self 

V. 

1  C. 

YORK  TERRACE. 

(58) 

•  Empty 

Atherton 

V. 

10  L. 

Ditto 

Ditto 

V. 

10  L. 

Ditto 

Ditto 

V. 

10  L. 

Ditto 

Ditto 

V. 

10  L. 

Ditto 

Ditto 

V. 

10  L. 

Ditto 

Ditto 

V. 

10  L. 

STRETCH'S  COURT.     (75) 

James,  A. 

Stretch 

c. 

12  L. 

Leigh,  W. 

Ditto 

c. 

12  L. 

Boyle,  A. 

Ditto 

c. 

12  L. 

APPENDIX. 


453 


DIRECTORY  FOR  EVERTON.     1830. 

The  figures  denote  the  street  or  place  at  which  each  person 
resides;  and  a  table  is  given,  at  page  460,  et  seq.,  in  which  each 
street  will  be  found,  numbered  from  1  to  87  inclusive* 


Appleton,  Thomas       ,,  40 

Atherton,  James           i  13 

Anderton,  Thomas       .  3 

Aspinall,  Thomas        .  16 

Appleton,  William      .  24 

Ashcroft,  Edmund       .  5 

Alston,  J.  F.                 .  3 

Aspinall,  Richard        .  32 

Adamson,  Thomas      ;  32 

Abraham,  William       .  33 

Atherton,  Mrs.         , .  .  37 

Atherton,  Capt.  James.  30 

Ackers,  Joseph             .  30 

Attwood,  Mr.                .  4 

Anderson,  John            .  6 

Attwood,  J.  T.              .  5 

Atherton,  Robert         .  17 

,  A  gar,  Ann                    .  34 

Appleton,  Rains          .  24 

Austice,  J.  B.               .  26 

Blundell,  Mrs.  Mary  .  1 

Brown,  William           .  3 

Benn,  Robert                .  16 

Bird,  Mrs.                     .-  32 

Boardman,  John          .  4 

Beetenson,  Mrs.         ,.    :  3^ 

Batley,  George         o. •«.  15 

Boothby,  J.  B.          !;,v  4 

Buchanan,  Daniel      ....  ,  18 

Boardman,  R.  B.        ... "  4 

Brown,  George         [   ;.  1 


Bruce,  Rev.  J.  *.  19 

Bebbington,  John  .  2 

Barton,  Miles  -,.  15 

Belcher,  Michael  .  11 

Bull,  Mrs.  .  16 

Benson,  John  .  24 

Brooks,  Rev.  J.  .  18 

Ball,  Thomas  .  4 

Beakbane,  Thomas  .  27 

Bootle  Water  Works  .  5 

Buddicom,  Rev.  R.  P.  13 

Best,  Miss  .  15 

Branch,  Thomas  .  15 

Brown,  Ann  .  37 

Buchanan,  John  .  5 

Bowerbank,  Thomas  .  34 

Berthoud,  Julius  .  26 

Banks,  Henry  .  25 

Barry,  William         .  .;  34 

Brennancl,  Miss  .  38 

Barton,  Mrs.  S.  >..  3 

Barrow,  Mrs.  Jane  .  34 

Bickerstaff,  William  .  34 

Blundell,  Mrs.  Jane  .  28 

Baddenoch,  G.  G.  .  28 

Barnes,  Henry  .  23 

Bryans,  R.  .  24 

Billing,  William  .  33 

Bryans,  James          .  ; .  .  32 

Brocklebank,  Mrs.  .  7 

Barton,  Miss  .  15 

Brebner,  James  .  1 


454 


APPENDIX. 


Bowman,  Mrs 
Barker,  J.  R. 
Brown,  W.  A. 
Brawn,  Laurence 
Brettargh,  Thomas 
Booker,  Thomas 
Boyle,  Alexander 
Baldwin,  W.  H. 
Bickersteth,  William 
Ball,  J. 
Byrne,  C.  H. 
Burden>  W. 
Bowman,  W. 
Bebbington 
Birkett,  W. 
Bishop,  J.  H. 

Carson,  John 
Campbell,  Colin 
Corrie,  Miss 
Chaffers,  Miss 
Crank,  Thomas 
Cliff,  Adam 
Cropper,  John 
Chew,  Mrs. 
Cope,  Benjamin 
Coleman,  Miss 
Campbell,  John 
Cooper,  John 
Coleman,  Robert 
Cleworth,  Joseph 
Collard>  Miss 
Clare,  George 
Calor,  William 
Cummins,  Richard 
Cowgill,  Mrs. 
Corkendale,  Mrs. 
Carr,  Mrs. 


23 

13 

13 

15 

26 

32 

75 

4 

5 

23 
30 
31 
33 
35 
37 
71 

4 

4 

9 

17 

30 

32 

4 

4 


Clay,  John 
Carter,  William 
Cooke,  William 
Cowell,  William 
Cannell,  Miss 
Cooper,  Thomas 
Chaffers,  J. 
Creer,  Robert 
Cordes,  J.  A. 
Cudd,  James 
Carrick,  Mrs. 
Caesar,  Thomas 
Coleburn,  Mrs. 
Collard,  Abraham 
Cave,  R. 
Crewdson,  A. 
Clague,  Robert 
Campbell,  P. 
Chaffers,  Mrs. 
Christian,  George 


Dixon,  William 

Dobson,  Richard 

Dyson,  T.  F. 

Drinkwater,  Exrs  of 
24  _Davies,  Henry 
18     Downing,  B.  H. 

4  Duly,  Richard 
2     Dickson,  G.  F. 

11     Dodson,  Miss 

26  Davies,  John 
28     Dale,  John 

5  Duarte,  T.  J. 
32     Dutton,  John 
30     Dagnall,  John 
16     Davidson,  John 
36     Dawbam,  John 

27  Dooly,  John 


78 
5 

15 

31 

5 

26 
37 
17 
22 
26 
28 
31 
7 

28 
29 
30 
34 
35 
38 
43 


4 
11 
11 
27 
28 

6 
14 
32 
32 
32 

2 

26 
38 

4 
28 
33 


APPENDIX. 


455 


Davies,  Richard 

9 

Foden,  William 

11 

Delonde,  C. 

5 

Foster,  J.                   •  '<*.  -i 

27 

Dickson,  G. 

20 

Fox,  T.                       /#;  r- 

31 

Da  Costa,  A.  J. 

24 

Fairclough,  T.          •}•'» 

46 

Dickson,  Mrs. 

71 

Davies,  J.  R. 

59 

Gaudy,  W.  J. 
Gill,  Joseph 

5 
26 

Gill  James                   •> 

26 

Earle,  William 

Eyes,  Miss                 ''•  ''.•  >•• 
Ellison,  Miss            ;    * 

4 
4 
3 

Guest,  Joseph 
Geddes,  J.  J. 

15 
26 

Edwards,  James       J  t~  .  •  •  • 
Edwards,  Robert        .  . 
Ellison,  Timothy 
Edmonson,  William    . 

33 
30 
26 
38 

Gore,  H. 
Greenall,  C.                 ,. 
Glazebrook,  F.  J. 
Glover,  R. 

20 
26 
32 
71 

Evans,  Samuel 

20 

Haydock,  H. 

34 

Ellis,  George             -   V 

37 

Houghton,  J.               •  .  '• 

46 

English,  Thomas      -    . 

15 

Hesketh,  B.              J  V- 

33 

Edwards,  Mary          •  »*? 

20 

Haines,  Richard 

1 

Ellis,  R.           .         -  ..-,-.' 

29 

Hanmer,  Latham 

2 

Harrop,  John            •  t  * 

5 

Fothergill,  W. 

26 

Halliday,  William 

16 

Fairhurst,  Michael    '  ;.  :  ' 

31 

Higginson,  John 

15 

Forshaw,  Hugh           : 

34 

Houghton,  Richard 

25 

Fair,  Miss  Alice 

5 

Harrison,  Isaac            v 

32 

Forrest,  Thomas 

48 

Haworth,  Mrs. 

3 

Fennel,  Charles        ~K.'  ;<i' 

15 

Houghton,  James 

2 

Frodsham,  Richard 

22 

Hutchinson,  John 

32 

Foster,  Christopher 

9 

Hope,  Samuel 

15 

Fair,  John 

30 

Harris,  Thomas 

It 

Foster,  William,  Sen. 

27 

Harrison,  Daniel 

32 

Foster,  William,  Jun. 

32 

Hillam,  Thomas 

26 

Fosberry,  William 

18 

Holmes,  James 

4 

Fry,  Joseph 

23 

Holmes,  John 

2 

Farn  worth,  Miss 

26 

Holmes,  Henry         .*-';' 

2 

Franklin,  Thos.  (41)    . 

4 

Hodgson,  David 

24 

Fairclough,  Richard     . 

9 

Horsfall,  Charles       JL  • 

4 

Flemming,  Thomas 

15 

Heyworth,  Ormerod     . 

IS 

Forshaw,  Mrs. 

5 

Hey  worth,  James     •  '  ..  ' 

14 

456 


APPENDIX. 


Henry,  William  .  14 

Hind,  Mrs.  .1, '•••••  40 

Hornby,  Joseph  /.'  13 

Hitchmough,  John  ;,.>'  17 

Hodgson,  Adam  .  22 

Harding,  Mrs.  .  •  23 

Hilton,  Rev.  Mr.  V  37 

Hughes,  Miss  '  . ''  15 

Handy,  W.  B.  :  37 

Healing,  Mrs.  Eliz.      .  30 

Haskayne,  William     .  28 

Haworth,  Robert  .  34 

Hindle,  John  .  7 

Harrison,  William  .  17 

Hibbert,  Thomas  .  -.;  26 

Hughes,  Thomas  .  25 

Hamilton,  R.  H.  i  28 

Harper,  David  .  7 

Humphries,  David  .  13 

Halliday,  Peter  .  33 

Haddock,  Henry  .  33 

Heaton,  James  .  23 

Hughes,  Mrs.  *  21 

Harrison,  Christ.  .._.  9 

Heyes,  J.  /»  33 

Howe,  John  *  4 

Hankin,  William  .  4 

Holmes,  Isaac  .  17 

Hazlett,  Elizabeth  .  .  38 

Harding,  J.  .  20 

Higgin,Mrs.  !>,„,,  30 

Hall,  C.  .,».,,  4 

Hutton,  B.  .  4 

Hornby,  J.  .13 

Jackson,  John  •.    .  32 

Jackson,  William  .  4 

Jones,  William  .  17 


Johnson,  Mrs.  .  32 

Jones,  Chris.  H.  .  v  /;       2 

Jones,  Thomas  .  40 

Jones,  John  .  15 

Jones,  Mrs.  Sarah  .  19 

Jones,  Mrs.  .  20 

Johnson,  Mrs.  .  5 

Johnson,  George  .  32 

Jones,  John  .  4 

Jones,  John  .  26 

James,  Andrew  .  75 

Johnson,  James  .  55 

Johnson,  John  .  31 

Irlam,  G.  B.  .  32 

Jones,  Edward  .  34 

Jump,  Mrs.  Eliz.  .  37 

Jones,  John  .  1 

Johnson,  Joseph  .  16 

Ironsides,  C.  ./:  13 

Irvin,  J.  .  26 

Jones,  J.  .  26 

Jones,  W.  .  31 

Jukes,  J.  .40 

Keogh,  Lawrence  .  28 

Knowles,  Thomas  .  3 

Kitchen,  J.  E.  .  15 

Kirkman,  Robert  .  31 

Kendall,  Mrs.  E.  .  16 

Kenworthy,  Mrs.  .  26 

Kelsall,  W.  .  39 

Livingstone,  Mrs.  .  3 

Lister,  Edward  (41)  .  4 

Lorimer,  Mrs.  .  15 

Laffer,  Henry  .  4 

Latham,  Mrs.  Alice  .  2 

Lowrie,  Thomas  .  16 


APPENDIX. 


457 


Ledson,  Robert 

4 

Moon,  James 

Lorimer,  Charles 

11 

Mercer,  Henry 

Lapage,  Frederick 

3 

Mason,  Stanhope 

Lang,  John 

7 

Muller,  John  F. 

Ledward,  Edward 

13 

Matthews,  Mrs.  Mary 

Logan,  James 

18 

Miller,  Mrs. 

Lodge,  Adam 

18 

Moore,  Stephen 

Law,  Mrs.  Jane 

23 

Middleton,  Charles  S. 

Lyon,  John 

17 

M'Rae,  J. 

Lindsay,  William 

30 

Maddox,  Joseph 

Latham,  Arthur 

18 

M'Mulling,  J. 

Leigh,  William 

75 

Moorhouse,  John 

Lowe,  Adrian 

27 

Myers,  Robert 

Langtree,  George 

28 

M'Kee,  Samuel 

Lindsay,  W. 

30 

Mottershead,  T. 

Lamb,  J.                       , 

30 

Morgan,  J. 

Lessey,  D. 

33 

Maxwell,  J. 

Leggat,  J. 

34 

Maynard,  T. 

Mossman,  Adam 

Mills,  E. 

31 

Moor,  Thomas 

Mills,  J.                    .',."..' 

31 

M'Guire,  Rev. 

Martindale,  W.            » 

32 

Millner,  T. 

Mottershead,  T. 

37 

Muir,  J. 

Maddock,  S.              ^  . 

38 

M'Gregor,  W. 

39 

Naylor,  Richard 

Metcalf,  J. 

39 

Nickson,  Thomas 

Marshall,  R. 

46 

Nicholson,  William 

Marsh,  Mrs. 

3 

Neale, 

Mather,  John  P. 

4 

Nicholson,  Miss 

M  'George,  John 

42 

Newton,  R. 

M'Cheane,  W. 

32 

M'George,  Miss 

11 

Oven,  R. 

Mawdsley,  Edward 

23 

Owens,  Richard 

Myers,  William 

12 

Oxley,  Thomas 

M'Kenzie,  Alexander  . 

34 

M'Kenzie,  John 

37 

Perry,  William 

Martinborough,  John  . 

35 

Potter,  Miss 

Mercer,  Mrs. 

30 

Pyke,  John 

13 
37 
37 
15 
28 
40 
15 
13 
37 
20 
34 
28 
10 
26 
5 
6 
6 
23 
24 
24 
23 
23 
29 

23 

37 

28 

1 

28 
31 

23 
31 
37 

11 
11 
17 


458 


APPENDIX. 


Potter,  Mrs.                  .  4 

Pritchard,  Mrs,  ' : '.  •'  8 

Parry,  Robert              '.  •  -  11 

Parlane,  Alexander    '*.  '  32 

Prescot,  William          ;  •"  2 

Powell,  Richard          *'.    '  23 

Pickering,  William      .  23 

Pennington,  John        .  15 

Parton,  J.                      .  32 

Price,  Thomas  "  i    •  31 

Parkinson,  Arthur       .  33 

Powles,  Alfred  William  2 

Pearson,  John               .  5 

Padmore,  Mrs.             .  20 

Pritchard,  Thomas       .  34 

Post  Office                    .  15 

Parkinson,  Robert        .  28 

Perry,  John                 '.' '  28 

Porter,  T.                      .  1 

Pugh,  E.  v  :  31 

Parry,  R.                       .    '  35 

Price,  Richard              .  37 

Pennington,  John        .  25 

Quale,  Margaret          .  31 

Rowe,  Miss                  .  1 

Robinson,  William      .  3 

Rutter,  Mrs.                '.  18 

Robinson,  George        .  24 

Russell,  William          .  18 

Ridgway,  Mrs.            'V  •  27 

Reid,  Lady                    .  5 

Robson,  Thomas  '    '.    '  17 

Richardson,  Jos.          .  20 

Reddish,  Thomas         .'  21 

Reeves,  Thomas           .  23 

Roth  well,  Henry  ''':'•*  20 


Rogerson,  James      '•  .  '•  6 

Rainford,  Thomas    "  i  -  17 

Rothwell,  William  .  9 

Ramsbottom,  George  .  9 

Ross,  H.  W.  .  80 

Rose,  James  .  23 

Randalls,  J.  H.  .  26 

Renwick,  James  .  31 

Rawdon,  J.  .  43 

Robinson,  George  .  37 

Rawdon,  J.  .  1 

Radclifte,  W.  .  3 

Richardson,  Captain  .  7 

Roach,  Mrs.  .  18 

Sudlow,  H.  .  28 

Shotwell,  Mrs.  .  29 

Shaw,  W.  C.  .  33 

Spencer,  Richard  .  23 

Sutton,  William  .  37 

Stokes,  Mrs.  .  57 

Syers,  George  .  17 

Shaw,  Thomas  .  17 

Strickland,  J.  .  26 

Smallwood,  Mrs.  .  32 

Sanderson,  H.  J.  .  32 

Styles,  Samuel  .  4 

Sharp,  Miss  .  15 

Shaw,  William  .  17 

Staniforth,  Samuel  .  3 

Syers,  William  .  17 

Shand,  William  .  40 

Salkeld,  George  .  4 

Stockdale,  Thomas  .  32 

Slingsby,  James  .  17 

Swift,  James  .  26 

Sutton,  Ashton  .  27 

Shand,  Charles  .  1G 


APPENDIX. 


459 


Sandiford,  Robert 

17 

Taylor,  Edmund 

37 

Slingsby,  James 

17 

Taylor,  Mrs.  Mary      «" 

37 

Syers,  Robert 

4 

Trougher,  Mrs.  Jane   . 

26 

Scurr,  John 

4 

Taylor,  Thomas 

33 

Stevenson,  Charles 

17 

Turton,  William        •'.  "<>' 

19 

Smith,  John 

17 

Taylor,  J. 

16 

Shaw,  William 

30 

Taylor,  D. 

22 

Sutherland,  John 

26 

Taylor,  Richard 

26 

Simpson,  Joseph 

3 

Thomas,  R. 

23 

Strickland,  Mrs. 

26 

Toxall,  Mrs. 

26 

Sudlow,  Thomas  M.    . 

26 

Trotter,  T.                    . 

28 

Stennet,  Mrs.  A. 

2 

Tyrrell,  G.                    -.  ' 

34 

Sim,  J. 

26 

Swire,  Samuel 

37 

Unsworth,  J. 

1 

Smith,  James 

5 

Sands,  Thomas 

18 

Waterhouse,  Mrs. 

57 

Spencer,  Henry 

33 

Wainwright,  T.  W.     . 

3 

Santly,  John 

78 

Wiatt,  Mrs.  Mary 

32 

Sandiford,  John 

9 

Warren,  John  H. 

30 

Skerrat,  W.  N. 

27 

Whalley,  John 

9 

Swift,  Mrs.  J. 

6 

Wright,  John 

1 

Steele,  J. 

36 

Wainwright,  George  J. 

32 

Wainer,  Charles 

60 

Tomlinson,  John      '_   . 

1 

Wilson,  William 

14 

Tarlton,  Miss            '   » 

4 

Wrenshall,  William    . 

17 

Taylor,  John 

15 

Williams,  William 

11 

Turner,  George 

32 

Wright,  Mrs.            -    . 

25 

Tattersall,  Thomas 

15 

Wilson,  John 

25 

Thomas,  Edward     !    . 

15 

Wilson,  H.               ]   ./ 

33 

Topping,  Mrs.          *  . 

17 

Wommersly,  John 

30 

Tatlock,  Mrs.            \. 

17 

Wybergh,  John 

11 

Tronson,  Robert 

32 

Wilson,  Mi's.  Maiy    . 

5 

Tatlock,  William 

4 

Willasey,  Executors  of 

11 

Taylor,  John 

28 

Williams,  William 

31 

Thompson,  Alexander 

11 

Withers,  George 

17 

Taylor,  John 

24 

Wain,  Mrs.  Mary 

18 

Tweddle,  Rev.  R. 

23 

Wilson,  Fred.  William 

34 

Tyson,  William        '   . 

30 

Woodhouse,  Samuel 

81 

460 


APPENDIX. 


Weetman,  James  .  23 

Wilson,  E.  .  13 

Wilson,  Mrs.  ,  "  27 

Williams,  Edward  .  6 

Watkins,  Robert  <   .   •.  15 

Wilson,  Robert  .  23 

Wright,  Mrs.  .  • :..  -  34 

Walklate,  Mrs.  ;.  ;  36 

Wylie,  David  ;  *  r .  48 

Woolton,  John  ; ;  %  r  78 

Wilson,  Robert  .  .  9 

Wrigley,  J.  H.  >. .  -:  7 

Webster,  J.  .  29 

Williams,  W.  .,  30 


Watkin,  J. 
Ward,  J. 
Whitbread,  J. 
Walter,  T. 
Watmough,  Mrs. 
Wilson,  Wm. 
Whitley,  J. 
Wrightson,  George 

Yates,  Mrs.  Ursula 
York,  Edmund 
Yelverton,  W. 
Yelverton,  T. 


1 

34 

1 

37 


EVERTON  ROADS. 

The  numbers  refer  to  the  Directory.  The  italic  capitals  and 
small  letters  refer  to  the  Map,  ivhere  the  streets  are  marked  as 
the  letters  are  placed  here. 


1  Everton  Crescent  16    v 

2  Everton  Brow  17 

3  Netherfield-rd.  south  18 

4  Netherfield-rd.  north  19 

5  B  Devonshire  Place  20 

6  St.  Domingo  Lane  2 1 

7  Everton  Valley  22 

8  Walton  Breck  Lane  23 

9  Beacon  Lane  24  U 

10  P  p  Sparling  Street  25  Q 

11  Church  Street  26  S 

1 2  Mere  Lane  27  L 

13  F  Lodge  Lane  28  K 

14  Hill  Side,  or  St.  29  M 

George's  Hill  30  0 

15  Terrace  31  P 


Rupert  Lane 
Village 
Everton  Lane 
Rake  Lane 
Mill  Lane 
Whitefield  Lane 
Hangfield  Lane 
Breck  Lane 
Prince  Edwin  Street 
Great  Nelson  Street 
Great  Homer  Street 
Rose  Vale 
Portland  Place 
Dryden  Street 
Virgil  Street 
Collingwood  Street 


APPENDIX. 


461 


32  J 

Roscommon  Street 

62  C 

33  Z 

34  F 

35   V 

Webster  Street 
Strickland  Street 
Back  Prince  Edwin 

63  Ff 
64  Gg 
65  Uu 

Street 

66  T  t 

36 
37  W 
38  X 

Wellington  Street 
Upper  Beau  Street 
Beresford  Street 

67  R  r 
68  Kk 
69 

39 

Back  Strickland  St. 

70 

40  li 
41  Hh 

Mary  Ann  Street 
Gloucester  Place 

71  Ss 
72  C  c 

42  A 

John  Street 

73 

43  E  e 

Shaw  Street 

U  Dd 
45  B  b 

46  AT 

Haigh  Street 
Salisbury  Street 
Grenville  Street 

74  E 
75 

76 

47  H 

Sackville  Street 

77 

48  ^  a 
49 

Watmough  Street 
Round  Hill  Lane 

78 
79 

50 
51 

Boundary  Lane 
Breck  Lands 

80 

81 

52 
53  LI 
54 
55 

Walton  Cop 
Priory  Lane 
Rocky  Lane 
Pinfold  Place 

82  / 
83  R 

84  T 

56 

Brow  Side 

85  M  m 

57 

Waterhouse  Lane 

86  0  o 

58  D 

York  Terrace 

59   Qq 
60  F 

Grecian  Terrace 
Northumberland  do. 

87  G 

61 

Albion  Crescent 

New  Street  near  do. 

New  do.  Breck  Lane 

Do.  do. 

Do.  Mere  Lane 

Do.  do.    0 

Hygeia  Street 

Do.  in  Great  Hey 

Do.  in     do. 

Do.  in  Little  do. 

Clifton  Street 

Upper  Mansfield  St. 

New  Street  opposite 
Crescent 

Albion  Street 

Stretch's  Court 

Great  Homer  Place 

Myrtle  Court 

Haworth  Street 

Edwards  Place 

Birch  Field 

Bronte  Lane 

Back  Roscommon  St. 

Birtles  Place 

Street  south  of  Ros- 
common Street 

Perry  Lane 

Mr.  Plumpton's  new 
Street 

Little  Street,   Ros- 
common Street 


462 


APPENDIX. 


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y  before-named  quantity  (f)  96  3  3  ] 
Deduct  .  0  2  2fi  ! 

y  large  portion  in  West  Derby  being  fields,  marked  A  ,  about 

y  small  portion  in  uo.  oeing  slips  at  ends  01  Wnitenei< 
y  three  small  pieces  unknown  where  now  situated,  viz. 
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emainder  may  be  roads  and  small  patches  which  have  1 

township  at  various  times. 

[  think  that,  to  make  Rocky-lane  straight,  more  than  an  acre  of  land,  < 
rt  of  what  was  West  Derby  common,  and  uo  part  of  the  Everton  lease  i 

PRECEDING  TABLE. 

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APPENDIX. 


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APPENDIX.  475 

Immediately  previous  to  having  impressions  taken  from  the 
engraving  of  this  map,  the  "Liverpool  Sewerage"  bill  was 
passed ;  consequently  the  engraver  has  been  enabled  to  trace 
on  the  plate,  the  direction,  &c.  of  both  the  proposed  and  exist- 
ing streets  that  are  to  form  the  boundary  lines  between  the 
townships  of  Liverpool  and  Everton ;  the  delineation  of  those 
intended  boundary  streets  is  given  as  copied  from  a  plan  in  the 
possession  of  the  township  of  Everton.  On  perusing  the  act, 
under  the  powers  of  which  the  said  boundaiy  streets  are  to  be 
formed,  it  has  been  deemed  proper  to  give,  in  this  work,  the  fol- 
lowing brief  statement  of  some  parts  of  the  clauses  of  said  bill. 

The  owners  of  certain  fields,  in  Everton  (and  also  in  Liver- 
pool), through  which  the  intended  boundary  street  (in  the 
north)  is  to  pass,  are  to  give  the  land  that  may  be  required  to 
form  the  said  boundary  street,  and  such  owners  of  land  are  to 
make  good  the  fences  on  their  respective  fronts  to  said  boundary 
street. 

The  narrow  strips  of  land  that  may  be  thrown  into  either  or 
both  the  townships  are  to  be  purchased  by  the  corporation  of 
Liverpool,  and  are  to  be  sold  by  the  said  corporation  to  the 
owners  of  such  larger  patches  or  parcels  of  land  to  which  they 
may  adjoin,  so  as  to  give  such  owners  a  front  to  the  boundary 
street ;  and  said  narrow  strips  of  land  "  shall,  from  and  after  the 
respective  conveyances  of  the  same,  be  and  become  of  the  same 
tenure,  and  subject  to  the  same  uses,  trusts,  &c.  as  the  lands  to 
which  the  same  may  be  respectively  adjoined."  Everton  is  to 
keep  that  part  of  the  intended  boundary  street  in  repair  that 
extends  from  the  west  end  of  Roscommon-street,  northwardly, 
to  the  extreme  north  part  of  Mrs.  Potter's  land  :  Liverpool  is 
to  keep  in  repair  all  the  other  parts  of  all  the  said  boundary 
streets  that  lie  between  the  townships  of  Liverpool  and  Everton. 

The  east  side  of  the  intended  boundary  streets  is  to  be 
deemed  the  boundary  line. 

No  other  erection  than  dwelling-houses  to  be  built  to  the 
front,  on  either  side  of  the  intended  boundary  streets,  and  such 


476  APPENDIX. 

dwellings  are  not  to  be  less  than  six  yards  wide  (in  front) ;  nor 
shall  any  steam  engine  be  erected  within  200  yards  of  the 
intended  boundary  street  (except  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Preston  road) ;  nor  on  the  land  that  will  lie  between  said  street 
and  Netherfield-road. 

The  said  act  gives  power  to  form  a  street,  or  road,  to  com- 
mence at  the  north  end  of  the  intended  boundary  street,  at  Mrs. 
Potter's  land,  and  to  continue  along,  northwardly,  until  a  junc- 
tion be  formed  with  the  great  north  road,  near  Kirkdale  village; 
the  said  intended  street,  or  road,  to  be  opened  and  made  on 
the  proprietors  of  the  lands  through  which  it  is  to  pass  having 
"  three  calendar  months'  notice,  in  writing,"  from  the  surveyor 
for  the  time  being  of  the  township  of  Everton  ; — said  street  or 
road  to  be  of  same  width  as  is  the  north  end  of  the  intended 
boundary  street,  and  to  be  bept  in  repair  by  the  township  of 
Kirkdale. 

The  present  to  be  the  boundaries  of  the  respective  townships, 
until  the  signing  and  publication  of  a  certificate,  by  two  magis- 
trates, of  the  completion  of  the  intended  boundary  streets,  and 
on  and  after  such  certificate  being  signed  and  published  by  two 
magistrates,  the  boundary  lines  to  be  as  the  acts  directs,  and  as 
the  boundary  streets  will  denote. 


EXPLANATORY   REFERENCES  OF  THE  CHARACTERS,  &c.   ON 
THE  MAP. 


Roads  of  1790. 
Roads  constructed  since  1790. 


•  Mere  stones. 
O  Pits. 

Parcels  of  land  added  to,  or  taken  from,  the  road. 

-- Division  of  leasehold  patches  from  ancient 

freeholds. 

i..::;-.  '-----:.:T..:;---'  '    Foot-path . 

IB  Buildings. 


APPENDIX.  477 

••  x  "  X  ••  X  ••  X  •  •  x  Divisions  of  locality  to  two  or  more 
persons. 

4-  Churches. 

X   Ancient  crosses. 

O  Public  pumps. 

The  large  capitals,  F.  L.  C.,  denote  the  tenures  of  each  loca- 
lity, as  freehold,  leasehold,  copyhold. 

The  smaller  capitals  denote  the  particular  streets,  the  names 
of  which  are  known  by  each  having  its  respective  capital  affixed 
to  a  street  or  road  in  the  List  of  streets,  at  the  close  of  the 
Appendix. 

The  smaller  capitals,  with  an  italic  letter  added,  are  a  con- 
tinuation of  references,  similar  to  the  last  noticed. 


ABSTRACTS  FROM  PUBLIC  DOCUMENTS,  AND  RECOLLECTIONS, 
TOUCHING  LAND  GIVEN  TO  AND  SOLD  TO  THE  TOWN- 
SHIP, AND  OF  LAND  ASSIGNED  BY  THE  TOWNSHIP  TO 
INDIVIDUALS. 

[Many  entries,  touching  said  transfers,  will  be  found  in  the  ex- 
tracts given  in  this  Appendix. ~\ 

1765  The  land  round  the  beacon  was  sold  to  Henry  Hard  war 

for  £4  4s.,   reserving  a  right  of  road  to  said  beacon. 
(Leasehold.) 

1766  George  Campbell  bought  some  land  from  township,  near 

to  St.  Domingo  mere,  for  £4  13s.     (Leasehold.) 
—     Some  ground  was  sold  to  a  Mr.  Sherratt  for  £2  2s. 
1770  The  township  bought  the  Barn  on  the  Hill,  and  the  land 

thereunto  attached,   from   John  Seacome,  for   £20. — 

(Leasehold.) 
1777  The  land  called  the  Netherfield-lane  was  sold  by  the 

township  to  Joshua  Rose  for  £140.     (Leasehold.) 
1781  Mr.  John  Fisher  paid  21s.,  for  some  alteration  of  a  wall 

north  end  of  Everton-lane.     Mem.   A  little  previous  to 

this  date,   the  road  near  Mr.  Gregson's  was  diverted 

from  a  straight  line. 


478  APPENDIX. 

1787  Forty-eight  square  yards  of  land,  opposite  (what  is  now) 
the  top  of  Roscommon-street,  was  sold  by  Mr.  Joshua 
Rose  to  the  township,  together  with  the  pump  and  well 
on  the  premises,  for  £21.  (Leasehold.) 

1787 — 8  On  an  agreement  that  Is.  per  yard  should  be  paid  for 
the  overplus  on  either  side,  Mr.  Harper  gave  and  took 
land,  opposite  the  coffee-house,  and  opposite  Joseph 
Ellinthorp's  buildings ; — the  pinfold  was  removed,  and 
the  roads  hereabout  improved.  (Copyhold.) 

1789  The  township  sold  to  John  Sparling,  Esq.  about  one- 

sixth  part  of  an  acre  of  land,  Cheshire  measure,  on  the 
north  side  of  Headless  Cross.  (Leasehold.) 

1790  Mr.  Carruthers  speaks  of  having  given  to  the  townshir 

600  yards  of  land,  but  where,  does  not  appear. 

1800  Power  was  given  to  purchase  an  old  building,  and  a  slice 

of  land,  opposite  the  house  of  the  late  Mrs.  Pyke,  being 
the  east  part  of  the  late  Bryan  Mercer's  garden ;  which 
purchase  was  effected,  and  the  road  widened.  (Copy- 
hold.) 

1801  William  Farrar  paid  £9  12s.  6d.  to  the  township  of 

Everton,  for  77  square  yards  of  land,  at  2s.  6d.,  fronting 
his  field  lying  on  the  lower  lane  from  Everton  to  Kirk- 
dale.  (Waste.) 

—  Richard  Bailiff,  of  Kirkdale,  paid  to  the  township  of 
Everton  £18  6s.,  for  180  yards  and  30  parts,  at  2s.  per 
yard,  fronting  his  field  in  the  lower  lane  leading  from 
Everton  to  Kirkdale.  (Waste.) 

1806,  7  A  little  land  was  given  to  the  township  by  Mr.  New- 
ton, at  the  round-turn  on  the  north  part  of  locality  27  a, 
opposite  the  present  gates  of  the  late  Mr.  Me  Gregor*s 
villa — the  township  built  the  fence-wall  without  cost  to 
Mr.  Newton.  (Leasehold.) 

1 809  A  few  yards  of  land  was  bought,  at  5s.  per  yard,  by  Mr. 
Me  George,  being  at  the  front  of  his  house,  in  the  village. 
(Copyhold.) 


s 


APPENDIX.  479 

1809  £21   17s.  6d.  was  paid  to  Messrs.  Pyke  and  Woodhouse 

for  land  they  sold  the  township,  near  Mr.  Halliday's 
stable.  (Copyhold.) 

1810  Mr.  Edward  Rogerson  paid  £10  10s.  for  land  sold  to  him. 
1814  Agreed  that  a  pinfold  should  be  formed  on  waste  land, 

at  the  north-east  corner  of  the  mere. — Mem.  A  cottage 
was  also  afterwards  built  there.  (Leasehold.) 

1817  Mr.  Perry  paid  £28  5s.,  for  113  square  yards  of  land, 
nearly  opposite  to  the  east  end  of  Priory-lane,  in 
Church-street;  the  road  was  made  straight,  and  im- 
proved, by  this  measure.  (Waste.) 

1819  Mrs.  Potter  paid  £25  4s.  6d.  for  land  sold  to  her  from 
the  township  in  Netherfield-road  north.  (Waste.) 

1825  or  thereabout.  A  little  land  was  given  and  taken  at  the 
round  corner  of  Mr.  Carson's  lot,  at  the  north-east 
corner  of  Roscommon-street.  (Leasehold.) 

^826  Six  hundred  and  seventy-two  square  yards  of  land  was 
bought  by  the  township  from  J.  and  R.  Fisher,  at  8s: 
per  square  yard ;  this  land  lies  at  the  north-west  quarter 
of  Everton-lane,  where  the  road  is  widened  accordingly. 
(Copyhold.) 

1 829  Mr.  Shaw  has  given  a  strip  of  land  to  the  road,  on  the 
south  side  of  Everton-brow,  running  westward,  from  the 
north-west  corner  of  Shaw-street.  (Freehold.) 

—  Within  the  last  few  years,  James  Plumpton,  Esq.,  in 

drawing  a  straight  line  along  the  west  side  of  Everton- 
lane,  gave  (at  some  places  little,  and  at  other  places 
more,)  in  all,  about  300  yards  of  land  to  the  township. 
(Copyhold.) 

—  Mr.  Sandiford  gave  a  small  portion  of  land  in  front  of 

his  house  to  the  township.     (Copyhold.) 

—  Mr.  Me  George  and  others  gave  a  piece  of  land  in  front 

of  Rupert-place  to  the  township.     (Copyhold.) 

—  The  late  Mr.  Ellinthorp  gave  a  small  point  of  land,  just 

before  his  south  entrance  door,  to  the  township.  (Lease- 
hold.) 


DIRECTIONS  FOR  PLACING  THE  PLA 

The  Beacon  to  face  page  56. 

The  New  Cemetery  to  face  page  210. 

The  West  View  of  the  Church  to  face  page  282 

The  Map  at  the  end  of  the  Volume. 


ERRATA. 

At  page  96,  the  last  line,  for  "  salt,"  read  "  ore,  &c.  for  sale." 
„  153,  line  26,  for  "the  soil,"  read  "the  history  of  the  so: 
„  167,  ,,  1 1,  for  "wine  merchant,"  read  "  woollen  dra] 
„  199,  „  25,  ^ 

„      252,    „    18  A  for  "Joseph,"  read  "Joshua. 
„       253,    ,,      5,  ) 


D.  Marples,  Printer,  Liverpool. 


\1 


PLEASE  DO  NOT  REMOVE 
CARDS  OR  SLIPS  FROM  THIS  POCKET 

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Syers,  Robert 

The  history  of  Everton